(Private) & Velma McDonald COOPER
Husband: (Private)
Wife: Velma McDonald COOPER, (daughter of Arvel Bradley COOPER), b. 14 Jan 1917, Summerville Mo, d. 23 Aug 2000, Cabool Missouri
Velma is not the biological child of Arvel Cooper. She was born Velma McDonald in around 1917 as she is 3 years old in 1920, listed as the child of William and Annie McDonald in that census who are in reality her grandparents. Her mother Maggie McDonald is living there as well and not married according to the census.of Texas County Missouri.in the township of Summerville. However, in 1930 Maggie McDonald is married to a man named Orvil>Arvil Cooper and they live right next door to William and Annie McDonald. still in Summerville Texas County Missouri . Orvil adopted Velma sometime after 1930.. Velma is listed as Velma McDonald in 1930 and not in the the Orvil. Arvil Cooper household but in her grandfather William McDonald's household. However, she is properly named as William's granddaughter. Gail Meeks who is the cousin of Trafford and Velma Cooper confirmed the paternity situation and it certainly fits all census info.
Velma marries a man named Ralph Waits . It is not known by her obit whether she had any children. There are no children on her obit, perhaps they predeceased her or she had none but she died Cabool or Kabul Mo and is buried in Kabul or Cabool Cemetery Locals on her SS are listed as 61610 Localities: Creve Coeur, Tazewell, Illinois Peoria, Tazewell, Illinois .Deceased Name: Velma C. Waits Velma C. Waits, 83 CABOOL - Mrs. Velma C. Waits, Cabool, a retired cafe employee, died at 2:05 p.m. in Kabul Nursing Home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Cabool Cemetery under direction of Elliot-Gentry Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Springfield News-Leader (MO) Date: August 25, 2000 Page: 4, 5B Record Number: spr9941055866664 Copyright © Springfield News-Leader. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc. Update on Velma she had two sons William and Walter. William was probably named for his grandpa William who helped raise Velma. Velma was a very kind woman who helped raise Donnie Lee Cooper after his mother left.