A. Marlene Cooper

Alice Marlene Jessop Cooper, age 86, passed away Friday on April 24, 2026, at her home after a battle with cancer. Marlene was born on February 9, 1940, in Logan, Utah, to Marlow Millward Jessop and Frances June Cooper Jessop. She grew up in Millville on the family farm and graduated from South Cache High School in 1958. Shortly after, she met her sweetheart, Dean Baker Cooper. They fell in love and were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 28,1958. They established their home in Wellsville and raised 10 children: nine daughters and one son. Last August, she and Dean celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.

Marlene and Dean shared a vision of having a dozen children, often joking that they “come cheaper by the dozen.” She spent the first 20 years of their marriage in childbirth and caring for the 10 babies they were blessed with, and the next 20 years raising the last of them. Marlene was a very hard worker; her days started early and ended late, and she sometimes worked through the night to complete tasks that could no longer wait. She developed many talents and was driven to learn and teach others homemaking skills, such as sewing, cooking, gardening, and preserving food. She was extremely frugal and could not stand waste; It was against everything she stood for.

Marlene loved reading, especially the scriptures, writing poems, and documenting family histories, quotes and meeting minutes. She enjoyed sharing these with everyone who visited her. She also had a natural talent for music; though she couldn’t read music, she could play anything that she had ever heard by ear on the piano or the accordion.

Marlene is survived by her sister Deann (Stan) Watts; her sister-in-law, Sue Jessop; her nine daughters: Rose Marie (Grant) Swensen, Karen (Bart), Nicholes, Ruth (Tim) Lindsay, Susan(DelMar) Bright, Tamera (Scott) Kendrick, LaRayne (Mike) Vicars, Geraldine Sharples, Janet (Dan) Hall, Amy (Wade) Leavitt; and her son, Joseph (Kayla) Cooper. She leaves behind 41 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Dean B. Cooper, her parents, Marlow and June Jessop; her sister’s, Sandra Schooley and Gloria Buckingham; her brothers, Douglas Jessop and ”baby boy” Jessop; her son-in-law, Steve Sharples; and four grandchildren.

Marlene will be remembered for her deep connection to family, both past and present, as well as her profound faith and love for learning and teaching. She leaves a significant imprint on the world through the many lives she touched.

A viewing will be held at White Pine Funeral Home, 753 S 100 E, Logan, Utah on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A second viewing will take place at the Wellsville Third Ward Church, 49 West 200 South, Wellsville, Utah, on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM followed by the funeral services at 11:00 AM.