Betty Jane Cooper, age 93, of Flora, and formerly of Clay City, Illinois, passed away Sunday night, June 11, 2023, at Flora Gardens Care Center.

      She was born April 4, 1930, in Clay City, the daughter of Clyde and Lola (Lee) Colclasure.  She was united in marriage to Eldon Gill.  She later married Gary C. Cooper on July 8, 1968, in Clay City, and together they shared 41 wedding anniversaries until his death on January 8, 2010.

      Betty was a homemaker and had previously worked in several area restaurants and at Bel-Tronics in Flora.  She enjoyed time spent working in her yard, especially tending to her flowers.

      She is survived by 4 sons: Steve (Connie) Gill of Flora, Rick (Glenda) Gill of Flora, Robin Gill (Martha Brown) of Clay City, and R.J. (Patti) Gill of Sedona, Arizona; 2 daughters: Lorena Gill (Jerry Bryan) of Clay City and Sandra (Jim) Lingle of Flora; a stepdaughter: Carolyn (Ralph) Hathaway of Denton, Texas; a stepson: Stephen Cooper of Sanger, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 9 step great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; a brother: Melvin “Jiggs” Colclasure of Olympia, Washington; 2 sisters-in-law: Betty Colclasure of Mattoon and Rita Caywood of Clay City; and several nieces and nephews.

      She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers: Charles Colclasure, Bernice “Doc” Colclasure, Ivan Colclasure, Jack Colclasure, Tom Colclasure, Buren “Buck” Colclasure, and Gerald “Rich” Colclasure; a sister: Mary Belle McGrew; and several nieces and nephews.

      A funeral ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.  Interment will follow in Floral Garden of Memories Cemetery.  A visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations are suggested to Flora First Church of God or any charity of the donor’s choice and these will be accepted through the funeral home.  To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com