Charlene Marie Hooper, age 87, died September 22, 2026, at UC Health in Loveland, Colorado.
She was born on January 13, 1939, in Hershey, Nebraska to Harold and Alberta Cochran. She grew up and went to school in Maxwell, Nebraska.
Charlene was a devoted mother to three children: Jackie, Cynthia, and Kevin, and always encouraged their interests and school activities. She met Ron Hooper in 1977, and gained two bonus sons, Eric and Todd, when she married Ron in 1980. To Ron and many others, she was affectionately known as "Coach."
The Hoopers made their home in Julesburg, Colorado, for over 46 years. They took great joy in traveling the country in their motor home, and in earlier years, on their motorcycle.
Charlene was a natural entrepreneur, and created several small businesses, including the Melting Pot store and a cleaning business in Ogallala, Nebraska. A gifted artist, Charlene created art and crafts throughout her life. She was a longtime member of the art club in Ogallala. She and Ron worked together at their Rocking Horse craft business, selling handcrafted furniture, birdhouses, and decorative items throughout the region. Their Ice Cream Coach business was a fixture for many years on the streets of Julesburg and at community events.
Charlene also worked at the Sears store in Julesburg, painted houses, and helped Ron with the upkeep at the Julesburg Cemetery.
Known as "Grams" to her grandchildren, and "G.G." to her greats, Charlene had a fun-loving spirit and delighted in playing games, sewing homemade Halloween costumes, letting them get messy with paint, and putting them to work in her craft and ice cream businesses, where they learned to make change and give good customer service.
She will be remembered for her loving marriage to Ron, her devotion to her family, her kind heart, and her abiding faith in Jesus, her Savior.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Danny Joe, in infancy; son, Todd Hooper; and sister, Sharon (Cochran) Pilakowski.
She is survived by her husband, Ron; children, Jackie Lockhart, Cynthia and Mike McCauley, Kevin and Elise Lockhart, and Eric Hooper; siblings, Larry and Deb Cochran and Vickie DeCent; grandchildren, Corey and Concetta Bang, Chandra and Mike Stroud, Aaron McCauley, Phoebe Lockhart and Aaron Collins, Zac Hooper, Zoe Hooper, and Zarah Hooper; six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. MST on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the United Methodist Church in Julesburg, Colorado, with the Rev. Aaron McClellan officiating.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. MST at the Draucker Funeral Home Chapel in Ogallala, Nebraska.
A memorial has been established in her memory for a later designation.
Interment will be in the Hillside Cemetery at Julesburg, Colorado.
Online condolences may be left at www.drauckerfh.com. Services will be livestreamed at www.drauckerfh.com.
Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.