Veronica Ruth “Frany” Cooper of Hermiston, our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, neighbor and friend, died on Dec. 6, 2025 in Yakima, Wash. at the age of 95.
She was born on Dec. 30, 1929 in Hermiston to Swiss immigrants Fred and Anna Furrer.
Frany grew up on the family farm on East Highland the youngest of seven children. She married Stanley Raymond Cooper on Dec. 24, 1948. They were blessed with three daughters, Linda, Loretta and Shirley. Frany and Stan took many fishing and hunting trips with family and friends. It didn’t matter the season, they were up to the adventure and many Cooper family memories were made.
They loved to dance at the Eagles, the jitterbug being their specialty, and loved a night out with friends. One year they hosted a fall dance in their newly built large shed and a good time was had by all.
Pitching horseshoes, which started out as recreation, ended up being one of Frany’s outstanding accomplishments. When she started beating Stan and others, she entered the tournament arena and from that point on there was no stopping her. Frany was the Hermiston Sagebrush first-place winner in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1983, as well as taking second place in 1979 and 1984. She won the Oregon state championship women’s “A” in 1984, 1985 and 1986 and placed second in 1987. Frany was inducted into the Oregon Horseshoe Hall of Fame in 2001.
She was famous for her “Cooper’s Candies,” made alongside her mother-in-law, Nellie Cooper. The three Cooper girls and their cousins sold the candy door to door for many years. Frany could make any kind of candy, her specialties being horehound, caramels, caramel corn and divinity.
Frany’s kitchen was her domain, welcoming all with the aromas of her love of cooking, preserving and baking. She made her home a place for all to gather, and after school her daughters and their friends could hardly wait to see what “Mom” had made for treats each day. She could take very little and always create a tasty meal. Everyone who had been blessed to enjoy a meal at the Cooper home knew they would never leave the table hungry. Frany definitely knew the meaning of the word hospitality.
Beautiful flowers had their special spot in her yard, roses being her pride and joy; snap dragons for Stan. The bountiful garden that Frany and Stan took great pleasure sharing what they had grown with others as small acts of kindness was a labor of love. When it came to receiving a bouquet of flowers from the family, we knew it would be carnations of any color that she appreciated the most.
Family was the most important element in her life. She and Stan tried to attend as many sporting events and special occasions as they were able to through the years to root for their daughters and grandchildren. All Hermiston sports were on the top of the list. What wonderful memories we have of those times together.
Frany’s crowning achievement was how she raised her three daughters. Linda, Loretta and Shirley always felt loved along with always having clean, beautifully pressed clothes, homemade snacks, special Easter baskets with their Hostess Snowball bunnies, and dinners of hot dogs, pizza, macaroni and cheese and tacos (when Stan worked out of town).
She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Michael) McCutchen, Yakima, Wash., Loretta Schab, Hermiston, and Shirley (Ken) Vandewall, Hermiston; grandchildren, Melana McCutchen, Cameron (Janet) Schab, Cody (Becca) Vandewall and Chelsey (Ruben) Blair; granddaughter-in-law, Jennifer Burt; great-grandchildren, Heaven, Denzel, Hezekiah, Idris, Leland, Bodie, Zoe and one on the way.
Frany was preceded in death by her husband, Stan Cooper; a grandson, Landon Schab; her parents; brothers, Joe and Tony Furrer; sisters, Anna Dober, Eda Golda and Loretta Harpster; and her much-loved dog, Tuffy.
Mom, we will miss your love and presence on this earth every day, just as we miss Dad. However, we know there will be a time we will all be together again in eternal life. Rest in peace and God bless you, Mom.
A private family burial will be at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Those who wish may make contributions in Fran’s memory to Pet Rescue.
Please share memories of Fran with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
