Martha Ann (Marti) Beasley Cooper, 78, Hallsville, MO passed away Friday, December 16, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family. Marti was daughter of Hazel Watts and Allen Beasley and born outside of Centralia MO. She attended a one room schoolhouse named Fox and did not go to city school until she was a freshman at Centralia High School. Her eighth-grade graduation was held at Liberty Baptist Church on Hwy 15 in Centralia. She started Centralia High in 1959 and graduated May 1962. She worked at MFA (Shelter Insurance) from May 1962 to January 1964 and at AP Greens in Mexico MO from November 1964 to April 1967, she then worked at MFA elevator in Centralia MO from 1968 to 1969. She finished her career working for State Farm Insurance in Columbia Mo from May 1969 until her retirement in June 2009 after 40 years of service.
Marti was married to John Weidler Cooper in 1963 and later divorced. She had two daughters Joyce Ann Cooper Lowhorn on June 16, 1964, and Jacqueline Lynn Cooper Rice Campbell on May 18, 1967. She moved from Columbia to Hallsville MO in August 2009.
She is survived by her daughter Joyce Ann and her husband Anthony; her son-in-law Billy Campbell of Moberly MO; grandsons, Chris Lowhorn of Hallsville, MO and Kevin Rice (Kayla) of Columbia MO; her granddaughters, Robyn Rice Purdy (Ron) of Madison MO and Jessica Jennings (Tarel) of Columbia, MO; one sister, Nancy Femmer of Centralia MO; two brothers, Tom Beasley (Lou) Booneville MO, and Bill Beasley (Barb) Hallsville MO; ten great grandchildren: Isabella & Abigale Lowhorn of Hallsville, MO, Sierra Bryson, Justin Purdy, and Remington Purdy of Madison MO, Kaiden Jennings of Mexico MO, Jeyshan Scott and Oaklyn Jennings of Columbia, MO, Riley Litton and Adlene Portell of Columbia, MO; and best friend Ed Petersheim of Columbia, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Jackie Campbell, her brother Gene Beasley, her brother Harold Beasley, her sister Pat Sexton, and her beloved dog, Angel.
Marti loved to cook and baked pies when she could. She loved all Missouri Tiger sports and enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, especially her grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at the Oliver Funeral Home in Centralia, MO. Interment will be in the Centralia City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on December 20, 2022, at the Oliver Funeral Home in Centralia, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Compassus, or to the Martha Cooper Memorial Fund, (for her grandchildren’s education) c/o Oliver Funeral Home, P.O. Box 125, Centralia, MO 65240. Condolences may also be made to the family at www.oliverfuneralhome.net