Athaleen "Nola" Hopper (Bolivar) 's Obituary
Nola Athaleen Barnes Hopper, born January 19, 1929 in Bolivar, MO, passed away surrounded by her family after a long fight with Alzheimer's Disease, Saturday, September 8, 2018 in Stillwater, MN.
Athaleen was the youngest child born to lifetime residents of Bolivar William Luther Barnes and Selah Florence Standley Barnes, known to many as Mother Barnes and Daddy Bill. Athaleen grew up on their farm outside of Bolivar, surrounded by friends, family, horses and other animals.
Athaleen graduated from Bolivar High School in 1947. She was hard working and entrepreneurial, and combining those traits with her fabulous sense of clothing and style, she opened Glo dry cleaners in Springfield, MO, in 1948, the first of several businesses she would own and operate. By 1964, life had taken her to Worland, WY, where she owned a sewing and fabric shop as well as a dry cleaning and coin operated laundry business. There she met Morris Hopper when he brought clothes in to be cleaned. They wed December 24, 1964.
They had one child, Maurine Nikole Hopper, and soon after her birth began traveling, both in the US and abroad, for Morris’ work in the oil field industry. They lived in Angola, Africa, Dubai, U.A.E., Singapore and traveled to many other countries. They returned to the US and lived in Scott City, KS, where Morris passed away in 1986. In 1994, after retiring from working at the Park Lake Nursing home in Scott City, Nikole and her husband Ross McBride were blessed to have Athaleen live with them in their homes in Texas, Michigan, California, Missouri and Minnesota. Athaleen loved to travel, both to see new sights and visit old friends, of which she had many. Most of all, she was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.
Athaleen was a joyous soul, possessed of a companionable spirit which radiated light through her beautiful eyes and cheerful smile, and was always up for an adventure. Even in later years, as Alzheimer's disease allowed us her presence but robbed us of her full company, her faith in Christ and optimism for life shone as a beacon for all.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Morris Hopper, parents, William and Selah Barnes, and her siblings: Alvin Barnes, Effie Barnes Terry (Alvie), Dee Barnes (Jewell), Evah Barnes Garrett, Faye Barnes Barber (Frank), Wilson Barnes, Truman Barnes, Elno Barnes, Selah Fern “Sally” Barnes Blacy, and Romie Eldon “Buddy” Barnes.
She is survived by her daughter, Nikole Hopper McBride, son-in-law, D. Ross McBride, and seven grandchildren: Mitchell (24), Morgan (22), Bree (19), Abbe(17), Broderick (14), Jocelyn (13) and Kyle (10). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she will be laid to rest after a graveside service Friday, September 14, at Payne Cemetery.
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