Wylvaree "Ree" Cooley Harper

Wylvaree "Ree" Cooley Harper passed away peacefully at Manhattan Nursing Home in Jackson Mississippi on Monday, August 14, 2017. She was born in the Bryan community in Jones County on February 21, 1931 to Buford K. (B.K.) Cooley and Mattie Huddleston Cooley. Ree was an active lifelong member of Heritage Heights Baptist Church, formerly Second Avenue Baptist Church in Laurel. She was active in the Laurel YWCO where she participated in gardening and sewing activities. Ree was an accomplished quilter and seamstress and also enjoyed crochet and embroidery. After her retirement from Dapsco Inc. as a bookkeeper, Ree became an avid gardener with a particular love for daylilies. She was a devoted mother and grandmother diligently attending her grandchildren’s activities throughout the years. “Meme” was also the proud grandmother of three Eagle Scouts. Ree was preceded in death by her son William A. “Billy” Harper, Jr. and her husband William A. Harper, Sr, to whom she was married for 62 years. She is survived by daughters Juanaree Harper Solop (Chris) and Leisa Harper Estes both of Ridgeland; daughter-in-law, Rebecca Harper of Elk City, OK; grandchildren Harper Solop (Sarah Beth) of Madison, Jake Estes, Jarrett Estes of Ridgeland, Donna Brogan (John) of Oklahoma City, OK; great-grandchildren Ava Harper Solop of Madison, Tazia Starr Johnson and Rein Johnson, both of Oklahoma City, OK; great-great grandchildren Naveah and Acai Johnson of Oklahoma City, OK; siblings Lowell Cooley, Milford "Mick" Cooley (Vi), Darrell Cooley (Jackie) and Barbara Cooley Sistrunk; her “Other Daughter” Marcia Easterwood of Laurel; and a host neices, nephews and other relatives and friends. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Manhattan Nursing Home and The Blake of Ridgeland, Mississippi, for their loving care throughout the past years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Heritage Heights Baptist Church, 4140 Highway 14 North, Laurel, Mississippi 39440, (601) 428-0416, Website: hhbclife.com; or Alzheimer’s Association – MS Chapter, 855 S. Pear Orchard Rd., Ste 501, Ridgeland, MS 39157, 601-987-0020. http://www.alzms.org/ Visitation will be on Wednesday August 16, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m. at Memory Chapel Funeral Home, with a Graveside Service immediately following at 11:30 a.m. at Hickory Grove Cemetery. Memory Chapel of Laurel is in charge of arrangements. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Wylvaree "Ree" Cooley Harper

February 21, 1931 - August 14, 2017