Age 69, was born in Ragland, AL on November 28, 1942 to Willie Pearl and Willard Woods. Gere was a 1961 graduate of J. W. Sexton High School. She married the love of her life, Clark Cooper on February 17, 1962. She retired from General Motors in 2004 after 36 yrs. of service. On Friday, August 3, 2012 Gere took her fight home, to be with the Lord after a lengthy illness. Only death parted this couple for they were happily married for over 50 years. She was preceded in death by: her daughter, Myra Cooper-Wynne and her parents. Survivors include: a loving devoted husband, Clark; daughter, Tammie Marshall; sons, Jeffrey and Marcus Cooper; sisters, Elaine Benson, Saundra (Alfred Sr.) Rogers, Kimberly McLeod; brothers, Edward (Collette), Peter and Terrance Woods all of Lansing, MI; 8 grandchildren, Kyree (Meesha) McKnight, Omni and Ikeya Wynne, Tozia Cooper, Latara, Erica, Kyla and Christopher Marshall; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters- in-law Meredith Cooper and Carole (Tom) Woods; uncle, Lewis (Priscilla) Stokes; special ex-son- in-law, John Marshall, many nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. Very special friends Mattie Callahan, Glenda Anderson and Zianne Thomason. Friends may visit Mrs. Cooper Thursday, August 9, 2012 9 am " 9 pm at Riley Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Immanuels Temple System of Churches, 5400 S. Martin L. King. on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Center of America or Hospice of Greater Lansing in memory of Gere Cooper.