Bessie Viola Shoup

Bessie Viola (Cooper) Shoup was born July 12, 1941 in Ripley, OK to William Waldon Arvel and Laura Imogene (Casey) Cooper and passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the age of 82 years.

During her childhood she attended The Church of God in Ripley with her grandmother Nettie Casey, where she accepted Christ.

Viola was raised and attended school in Ripley. On December 25, 1960, she married Herbert M. Shoup Jr. "Butch". They made their home on the farm South of Ripley where they raised two daughters, Jerri Ann and Kathy Jane. Viola gardened and canned, baked bread, and sewed clothing for her children and mother. She also worked as an insurance agent, administrative assistant, and U. S. mail carrier. She was active in the Ripley United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school. Later, she moved to Stillwater and enjoyed friendship with close neighbors. She traveled and liked to read. She taught her grandchildren to sew and embroider and made costumes for their school plays.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister Barbara Sue Longan and brother Randy Waldon Cooper. She is survived by daughter Jerri Ann Arthur and husband Rhyner of Perkins, OK; daughter Kathy Jane Kirkpatrick and husband Brett of Thomas, OK; sister Carolyn Schroeder of Cheyenne, WY; Five grandchildren: Stephanie Leach and husband Joshua of Tryon, OK; Sarah Dean and husband Shane of Cushing, OK; Caleb Arthur and wife Catie of Perkins, OK; Amanda Miller and husband Stenson of Thomas, OK; and Katy Kirkpatrick of Yukon, OK; 9 great grandchildren: Rhylan, Raygan, and Rhys Leach; Tate and Wyatt Dean; Callie Arthur; Widney, Wyatt, and Cole Miller.

She is also survived by special friends, Karen Holman of Stillwater, and Shannon White of Weatherford.

The family would like to thank the staff of Stillwater Christian Villa, Companion Hospice of Guthrie, The Homestead, and Russell Murray Hospice of Weatherford for their compassionate care.

Services have been entrusted to the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home and will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday January 23, 2024 at their Stillwater Chapel. Interment will be before the service at the Ripley Oak Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Russell Murray Hospice, 1625 Cypress Drive, Weatherford, OK 73096.