Phyllis L. (Kiphart) Cooper

Phyllis L. (Kiphart) Cooper, age 86, passed away Monday afternoon, November 18, 2019 at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin.  She was a longtime resident of Morgantown.

Phyllis was born May 4, 1933, in Johnson County, to her parents, the late Ray and Ruth (McClung) Kiphart.  She was a 1951 graduate of Center Grove High School.

Phyllis married John D. Hendricks on July 31, 1954 at the Bluff Creek Christian Church in Greenwood. He preceded her in death on July 5, 1963. She later married James Wilbur Cooper on October 22, 1966 in Whiteland. He also preceded her death on February 26, 2005 after 39 loving years of marriage.

Phyllis is survived by companion, Hugh Dunn of Franklin; siblings, Nina (Pete) Scott of Waynesville, Ohio and Elizabeth Kay (Ronald) Brown of Bargersville; nieces, Linda Tabeling of Indianapolis and Shelly Peth of Wilmington, Ohio; nephews, Curtis Brown of Bargersville, Brett Scott of Germantown, Ohio and Dean (Tammy) Scott of Waynesville, Ohio; great nieces and nephews, Dana (John) Christanson, Cady Tabeling and Steven & Seth Brown; special friends, Pam & Eddie Bain and Helen Smith all of Morgantown, Jim Bradley of Trafalgar and Linda & Mark Henderson of Bargersville.

Phyllis retired in 1981 from the Allison Division of General Motors where she worked as a secretary in the Tool Gauge Department for more than 30 years. She also helped her husband, Wilbur with the family farm. After retirement, Phyllis became the owner and operator Grandma’s Diner in Trafalgar.

Phyllis was a 50 year member of the Morgantown Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as Past Worthy Matron and Patron. She was also a 50 year member the Morgantown Kappa Kappa Sorority, where she served as past Chapter President and the past President of the State Association. Phyllis served as the Morgantown Memorial Day Parade Chairman for 35 years and also chaired the Heritage Days Festival in Morgantown.  

Other memberships include, Beech Grove Baptist Church, Union Christian Church, Johnson County Horse Club and the Valley Riders Horse Club. Her true passion was raising, riding and sharing her love of horses. Phyllis was well known for her riding skills. Her and her husband rode their Yellow Paint Match pair of horses in many local & state parades, as well as, the Rose Bowl Parade and the Indiana State Fair Parade in 1960’s. Phyllis and her husband raised and sold Half-Linger Horses. They would travel with them to many state fairs and parades along with their wagon and petting zoos.

The Revs. Ron Sodrel and Allen Whitehurst will conduct a funeral service on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center, 179 E. Mulberry St. in Morgantown. Friends may call from 4-8 on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at East Hill Cemetery in Morgantown. A Kappa Kappa Sigma Sorority Memorial Service will precede the funeral service on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Phyllis to the Johnson County Humane Society, 3827 N. Graham Road, Franklin, IN 46131.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be made to the Cooper family at www.meredith-clark.com.

Information:  812-597-4670

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