Vernie Cooper Kelley

Vernie Cooper Kelley, age 97, of Rose Bud, died on January 20,2017. She was born on December 18, 1919, to Lee Vernon Cooper and Mary Frances Johnson Cooper in Rose Bud, Arkansas. She was born and reared in Rose Bud. Except for a few years in Los Angeles, California, she lived her life in the Mt. Bethel Community near Rose Bud. She loved her family, her home, her community and her neighbors. She often stated that she had lived in Rose Bud for so many years that she was a part of the dirt. She will be remembered as a Godly Christian woman, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and a very special person. Mrs. Kelley married Vernon Kelley of Romance on October 15, 1938. They spent their early years of marriage in Southern California. After returning to their beloved home state, they later owned and operated a cattle farm in Rose Bud. She was an original "Rosie the Riviter" who worked at the Arkansas Ordance Detenator and Munition Plant in Jacksonville, Arkansas, during WWII. Later, she worked at International Shoe Company in Searcy. She was owner/operator of Vernie's Beauty Shop in Rose Bud. Mrs. Kelley is preceded in death by her husband, her parents; two brothers, William Buster (Bus) Cooper, Ray A. Cooper; a sister, Odean Cooper Thomas Gray of Searcy; and son-in-law, Rev. David A. Joslin of Conway. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Kay Joslin, of Conway; two grandchildren, David A. Joslin Jr. and wife Patty of Maryland, Delaware, and Kelli Kristen Joslin Cypert and husband Steve of Sheridan; five great-grandchildren, Ashley Joslin Bethea, Austin Mitchel Joslin, Paige Kelley Joslin, Kristen Hope Cypert, and Thomas David Cypert and wife Alissa Beth; great-great-grandchildren, Michael David Bethea and Joy Beth Cypert; many nieces, nephews, and a host of loving friends. Funeral services will be held at Mt. Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in Rose Bud on Tuesday, January 24, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. at Mt. Bethel Free Will Baptist Church before the service. Burial will be at Mt. Bethel Cemetery. The service will be conducted by Rev. Steve Cypert and Rev. Thomas David Cypert. Pall Bearers are David A. Joslin Jr., Thomas David Cypert, Derrel Thomas, Danny Ray Cooper, David Lynn Crockett, Scotty Boggs, Gary McKay, and Gary Wortham. Honorary palblearers are Jimmie Crockett, Donald Crockett, Carron Byrd, Hamlee Moon and Lee Young. Arrangements by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home, Searcy. For online guest book, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.