Mary Jean Hale Cooper, 80, of Waynesville, formerly of rural Avon and Cuba, died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, in Lincoln.
She was born Dec. 1, 1925, in Cuba, the daughter of Harry and Alta Salisbury Hale. She married Loyal Wayne Cooper on Jan. 23, 1946, in Cuba. He survives.
Also surviving are four sons, Lloyd (and Betty Ann) of Macomb, Richard of Frankfort, Ind., Randy (and Betty Gail) of Bushnell, and Brian of Avon; four daughters, Carol Sue (and David) Harper of Ellisville, Diana Cooper and Paula (and Leo) Parsano, both of Vermont, and Claudia (and Eric) Sanders of Waynesville; one sister, Beatrice Mac Morris of Columbus, Ohio; 12 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, one sister and one grandson.
She was a homemaker. She also worked at the Overall Factory in Canton.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society in Lincoln.
She was known for many years as the "Candy Lady" of Babylon as her fudge was well known on the Spoon River Scenic Drive.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. tonight at Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Cuba. Burial will be private at a later date at the Cuba Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Maple Ridge Care Center Physical Theraphy Department, 2202 N. Kickapoo St., Lincoln, IL 62656.