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Rita J. Cooper
Born: 11/28/1954
Died: 8/23/2026
Age: 71
Community: Vassar, MI
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VISITATION: Rita's family will receive visitors at Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026.
FUNERAL: Funeral services will follow at the funeral home at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026; additional visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. and last until the time of service.
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Rita Jane Cooper, who left this world peacefully on Sunday, August 23, 2026, surrounded by the ones she loved most.
Rita was a beloved mother, grandmother, partner, and friend to all who knew her. An avid outdoorswoman, she loved hiking, hunting, fishing, and the occasional motorcycle ride. She made it her mission to raise her children and grandchildren as outdoor enthusiasts in their own right, passing down not just her love of the wild but a strong streak of independence along with it.
Rita gave us a lifetime of memories in the outdoors and touched the hearts of everyone she met, meeting life with unwavering strength and love. Though her presence will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on forever in our hearts.
Rita is survived by her children, Roy (Rebecca) Cooper and Charlotte (Dan) Draper; her life partner, Larry White; her grandchildren, Trevor (Hailey) Schultz, Jenna Thornton, and Declan Draper; her great-grandchildren, Annie and Addison Schultz; and countless other friends and family who were lucky to call her their own. She was preceded in death by her mother, Charlotte (Lauthrie) Cooper; her father, Dallas Cooper; and her brother, Daniel.
Rita moved through life the way the wind moves through an open field — free, unhurried, and entirely her own.
Some souls are built for walls and rooms,
Some for gardens, wide and bloomed.
She was neither still nor tame —
she moved like weather, without a name.
Barefoot spirit, sunlit face,
she found her church in open space.
And though she's left this quiet ground,
look for her where the wind is found.
Those desiring may direct memorial gifts to McNally House at Covenant HealthCare by contacting the Covenant HealthCare Foundation at 989-583-7600 or by visiting their Covenant HealthCare Donation Page. Donation envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.
Donation Options
Phone: Call the foundation directly at 989-583-7600 to direct your gift specifically to McNally House.
Online: Make a secure contribution online via the Covenant HealthCare Donation Page.
By Mail: Send checks made payable to the Covenant HealthCare Foundation using their downloadable giving forms
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Copyright © 2026 Direct Obits, LLC
| Visitation |
| Date: |
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8/28/2026 |
| Time: |
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4:00 PM |
| 4 - 7 PM on Friday, August 28, 2026 |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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8/29/2026 |
| Time: |
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1:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Hanlin Funeral Home - Vassar
1148 W. Saginaw Road
Vassar, MI 48768Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Rev. Jim Bruner |
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