Yuvonne Cooper, age 64, of Mason City, went to be with her Lord and Savior, surrounded by her loving family and friends on Monday, June 19, 2023 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.
She was born July 19, 1958 in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Leonard and Ivis (Wilson) Reed.
Yuvonne married Gary Cooper on September 15, 1979 at the First Baptist Church in Mason City, IL.
Mourning her passing are her husband, Gary; daughter, Kendra (KC) Sullivan; son, Garon (Sara) Cooper; grandchildren, Sawyer, Rawlins, and Josie; granddog, Gunner; brother, Stanley Reed; and several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Winston and Ethel Cooper; sisters-in-law, Louise and Judy; and brother-in-law, Raymond.
Yuvonne graduated from Mason City High School in 1976. She then worked for Horace Mann in Springfield from 1976 until 2019 for over 43 years.
She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Mason City, Illinois, where she was an active member. She played piano there for 51 years.
Yuvonne enjoyed playing the piano and singing with her family. She loved cooking, especially for family gatherings. She also enjoyed shopping with her cousins and friends, and especially traveling to Branson. Branson was her “happy place”. Yuvonne was consistent with her daily devotionals.
Her most important piece of advice was “Love each other and make sure to get there (Heaven)”. She loved the Lord with all of her heart and served Him all her life.
Visitation for Yuvonne will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023 from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Mason City, Illinois.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church in Mason City, Illinois. Burial will be held immediately after the services at Big Grove Cemetery near Mason City, Illinois. Pastor Luke Wolford will be officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church in Mason City, IL.
Mott & Henning Funeral Home is assisting the family. On-line condolences can be shared at www.mottandhenning.com.
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Posted June 20th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Kendra and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Your mom was beautiful on the inside and out and was such a dear friend to many. I am in Florida but will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. ❤️
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
From the very first moment I met Yvonne I noticed that she dearly loved her life and her children. That says a lot for a lady that is truly in love with her Lord and Family. May God Bless you and all your children during this journey.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
My deepest sympathy Kendra, Gary and Garon. Yvonne was a wonderful lady and very supportive of all you did. She was in my first class that I had and was a super student. You have many beautiful memories of her and those will help you. Prayers to all🙏
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. George and I still remember living down the road from all of you. So many memories. She will be remembered for how sweet and kind she was to everyone she met. I saw her several times after we had moved and it was like time just stopped. I’ll miss her smile and her love of Jesus.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 4:47 pm
Stanley and entire family. My deepest sympathies. Yuvonne was a classmate and good friend. I’m glad I was able to sit and talk with her at our reunion. She is with her lord and savior and in peace Heaven gained an angel.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 4:51 pm
Yuvonne was such an outgoing person, she made everyone feel loved and welcomed. I will always treasure our last phone call just a few weeks before her passing. Had you been eves dropping on our conversation, you’d never have guessed that she was in the final stages of cancer. She still had her marvelous sense of humor and her love of family and friends. Vonnie was a Jesus follower and she was quick to to say so and seemingly found it easy and natural to talk about Him. She will be missed. Our family Wilson reunions will not be the same without her, but I know she’s now at Home and at rest. My prayers are with her family and loved ones.
Cheryl Macdonald (Cousin)
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 5:40 pm
Yvonne’s smile could light up the room! Her devotion and love for Jesus was always shown in her love and kindness to others and it always shined through. In our moment of heartache and despair she took a day off work to play the piano at our father / Grandfather’s funeral-Art Behrens funeral, an act of kindness we will never forget.
A true angel here on earth and what a mighty one there will be in heaven.
Our deepest condolences thoughts and prayers are with you now and in the coming days.
Remember – Sorrow is not forever but love is and May you find comfort in the coming days.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 6:53 pm
I remember singing in churches with Yvonne and her brother Stanley back when we were all in high school. She was a very nice person and a great Christian. It is a comfort to know she is singing with the Lord now.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 8:07 pm
My Aunt YuVonne was truly the best. She taught me about makeup, hair products, and style. My vacation to Branson with her and Gary when I was 15 was and is my most favorite vacation memory of all time. YuVonne and I both shared a love for shopping, sweets, and George Strait! Family was so very important to her, so holidays, cookie baking day, and doughnut fries were always a blast. It’s so hard to imagine life without her here, but we have the sweetest most loving memories to fill our hearts.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 9:42 pm
Gary and family, and Stanley and family, we are so very sorry with Yuvonne’s passing. Yuvonne, had a beautiful smile that would light up the room the moment she walked into it, she was one of the sweetest persons I ever met.She was beautiful inside and out. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May God Bless Yuvonne, may he wrap his loving arms around her and bring her peace and comfort. May God also bring peace and comfort to all of you.
Posted June 20th, 2023 at 10:24 pm
I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. It was a privilege meeting you all and I could feel the love you all shared! Continued prayers for all of you.
Posted June 21st, 2023 at 3:59 pm
I was privileged to work with Yuvonne for many years at Horace Mann. She was a true professional and had such a kind and loving spirit. I was so saddened to hear this news, especially for her family and friends, as I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you. Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers – so very sorry for your loss.
Posted June 22nd, 2023 at 9:17 am
Gary and Family, John and I are so very sorry for your profound loss. Yuvonne was a lovely lady and a talented musician. A devout Christian, she was a true gift to her entire family, her church and the community. She will be greatly missed. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Posted June 22nd, 2023 at 12:24 pm
I’m so sorry to read of Yuvonne’s passing. We got acquainted as we worked on the same floor at Horace Mann for many years. The comments of others noting her wonderful smile, kindness and style really fit the person I was glad to meet. Several years ago, we got a good chuckle when she commented that she thought the two of us were about the last ones on our floor that still regularly wore dresses and panty hose. How blessed you are to have had her in your daily life.
Posted June 23rd, 2023 at 6:42 am
Dear Cooper and Reed Family,
I am sad for all of you as I know Vonnie was a rock in your family. Vonnie welcomed me in as if I was family, so kind and caring and there was always joy in the room when she was there. I smile with tears in my eyes as I read the memories and thoughts of others about Vonnie ,such an example for those around her. She truly lived out the two greatest commandments, Love God and Love others. Praying for the family and wish I could be there, but my thoughts are with you.
Posted June 27th, 2023 at 11:21 am
Gary and family, Stan and family. John and I were so sorry to hear about Yvonne’s passing. You all are in our hearts and thoughts at this very difficult time.
Posted July 1st, 2023 at 9:19 am
As I sit here reading all of these wonderful comments from many of Yuvonne’s Friends and Family, I am humbled by the kindness and love that has been expressed by each of you.
Yuvonne has been a wonderful Sister (My Only Sibling) throughout my life. We were very close and I can say with so many others, I will miss her greatly.
As I look at her picture and read through her obituary, I just can’t believe that my sister could possibly be among those who have passed from this earthly life on to Life Eternal in Heaven to be with Jesus and many Loved Ones who have gone on before.
I know she was certainly ready for which I am very Thankful, and I know one day we will be reunited. It’s this temporary separation that those who are left behind for now are finding very difficult to comprehend.
Thank You All for sharing some of your memories and for You Condolences!
Posted July 19th, 2023 at 6:07 pm
Gary, Kendra, Garon, & family,
I am in shock! Today, I found out about Yuvonne’s passing on her birthday. She would have been 65. We always celebrated our birthdays together. Both Juky babies. I worked with Yuvonne for a long time at Horace Mann. We would go to lunches together, and was in the same division. Yuvonne was such a positive person. I am so blessed to have known her in my life. We had so many great memories together. A few that come to mind is eating at Saputos, Cheddars, Ritz’s on Jefferson. I will never forget all the IT division outings, sitting together at the Employee of the year meetings, Christmas lunches, and our phone conversations, and texts. We even dressed up with ugly sweaters one year for Christmas. Riding the pontoon boats at the beach house. Participating in fun games at Knights Actuon Park. She was involved with Kendra’s wedding. We would have lots of conversations about the planning. Her most recent conversations included pictures of her grand children. She was the best cook. She would make chex mix and the best sausage bread in this earth for my birthday. Yuvonne was a ray of sunshine. I wish I would have known that she was so sick in the end. Heaven received was of the most genuine angels ever. Yuvonne loved with her whole heart and never complained. My dear friend. I will llve and miss you so much! My heart is broken now……but I will always remember all the good times we had together! Fly high my dear friend. Love you so much!
Posted September 4th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
We are so sorry for your loss. Thank you for bringing Yvonne into our lives. She was a true pleasure to know. We hope that you are filled with peace as soon as possible and can be comforted by your memories. She will always be with us, and you, as part of our memories and who we are, think about, and remember. May your dreams of her bring you happiness and a sense of her continual presence.