Kari Cooper

Kari Christine Cooper, 57 years, of Beebe, Ar went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 9, 2021. She was born in California on March 31, 1963. Kari graduated from Jacksonville High School in the Spring of 1981 and later married her sweetheart Timothy Grant Cooper on December 26, 1981.

Love and joy are words that would describe Kari’s life. Her first love was Jesus and his love was evident in everything she did. She was a strong believer in Jesus Christ and wanted all Glory to be his, crediting Christ for his provision in her life.  She worked hard to keep the Word of God the center of her life, marriage, and in the way she raised her daughters and grandchildren. If you knew Kari, you knew how much she loved her husband Tim, her best friend and lifelong companion. Tim said she was his sunshine - he loved her red hair, freckles and joyful spirit.  From the day they met at eighteen years old, they never spent a day apart.

She was dedicated to sharing the gospel with anyone she met. She loved serving at Union Valley Baptist Church in the nursery and teaching her 1st grade Sunday School class with her husband. Kari had many trials in her life due to poor health but she never steered away from her faith and remained steadfast in the Lord’s promises. She was a prayer warrior for her friends and family and always put others before herself. She loved children more than anything in the world, so she enjoyed being outside to watch her grandbabies play. Spring was her favorite season for many reasons, but mostly to celebrate the day Christ was resurrected. She enjoyed gardening and seeing flowers and plants. She made sure to make every time spent with family special. Making crafts, playing dolls and cars and taking pictures of her grandbabies were always a priority. She was a beautiful blessing to her family and friends.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

We love and will miss her dearly, but rejoice in one day reuniting with her in Christ.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Timothy Grant Cooper, two daughters Kayla Cooper, her fiance Chad Miller, Brittney Allinder, her husband Billy Allinder, and her three precious grandchildren- Natalie, Leeland, and Maverick Allinder. Her sweet mother Margret Crawford, siblings Rusty Crawford and family, Malissa Crawford and family, and Jennifer Whitehead and family along with many cousins and extended family whom she loved dearly. She is preceded in death by her father, Russell Norman Crawford and many aunts, uncles, and other loved ones.

Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Union Valley Baptist Church, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.

State of Arkansas COVID-19 directives: Face coverings, social distancing. Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home. www.smithfamilycares.com