Hello! I am Travis, the youngest grandchild. Let me tell you about my wonderful and funny Nana. Doris Anna Cooper was born on May 8th, 1921 on a Carnarvon farm. She was a waif of a thing, but little did we know she was made of steel. As a young girl she milked cows, made countless loaves of bread, was awakened in the night by her Dad to dress her Mom’s open leg sores, and raised her baby brother, Max, because her Mom died at an early age.
Nana was one of ten children. She is the last one to pass on. Nana worked hard on the farm but they had such great fun as a family. Their cousins were next door so they had enough kids to field two full baseball teams. There was only one pair of downhill skis for everyone. Nana learnt to ski, hanging on for dear life, standing behind Aunt Vi.
Nana met James Bird Cooper, our Poppa, on the side of the road when he stopped to help a broken down car. What a lucky day it was for him! That reminds me of the story about how Nana eventually got her driver’s license. Poppa taught her how to drive and, when they went to Minden to be tested, she drove the whole way without her license yet! When they arrived, the Examiner saw her drive in. He said to Poppa, “Is she a good driver?” Poppa said, “Yes, very good!” The Examiner said, “Well, that’s good enough for me!” And so she passed!
Nana and Poppa’s hearts and homes were always open to their neighbors, their family and friends, their Church, and to God. Nana and Poppa became Christians in their thirties and we have all benefited greatly from their walk with God. They have left their mark around the world, with missionary work and donations. Here in Haliburton they have several Cooper clan legacies:
At the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School is the Jim & Doris Cooper Scholarship in Mathematics. This scholarship is awarded annually to the high school student with the highest mark in Mathematics, Nana’s favorite school subject!
At the local hospital, just outside of town, you will see the Doris & James Cooper plaque on the wall for their donations to support Haliburton Highlands Health Services.
Last Fall Nana set up a legacy at Medeba Adventure Camp to send a local Haliburton child to day camp every summer. Nana and Poppa also donated the land and many countless hours to establish the West Guildford Gospel Chapel.
Finally, the last thing that comes to mind, because I was just there, is The James Cooper Lookout Trail at Beech Lake. We call it “Cooper Mountain”! Nana and Poppa and their business partners, the Pitts family, donated the land to Algonquin Highlands, with the condition the property be dedicated to PUBLIC USE. There were so many hikers and cars there this past weekend, we could barely find a parking spot!
Nana has touched all of us in some way. It is hard not to miss mentioning something. Maybe it is Nana’s Apple Crisp, her Peanut Butter cookies, her Christmas pudding, or the afghans and mitts and hats she knit. Maybe it is the baby clothes she sent to the missionaries, or the grown up clothes she sewed for her girls. Maybe your memories of Nana are from her Sunday School lessons at the Chapel, or maybe it was getting trounced by her at Skipbo. For all of us she taught us to love God, how to swim, and to always laugh.
Nana was sharp-minded to the end. Just on Thursday night my Dad called her to say, “Doris, we are coming up to see you!” Without hesitating she said, “Did you ask me if you could?”
In closing, we want to wish for YOU a long and wonderful and Godly and fun-filled life like Nana’s. Thank you ALL for being a part of our Nana’s life.
