Charlotte Hopper (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Charlotte Lorraine Burger Hoppers was born in Topeka, KS on February 9,1934 and died July 16, 2017 following a long battle with cancer. Charlotte spent her early years in Kansas City, MO until she was 12 when her family moved to Weaubleau, MO to run the store at Burger Junction.
She graduated as Salutatorian from Weaubleau High School in 1952. Charlotte loved Hickory County and treasured the lifelong friendships she made there. Charlotte met Bill Hoppers at the Wheatland Skating Rink and they married six weeks before he left for a two-year stint in the u.S. Army. In Bill's absence, Charlotte began attending Southwest Missouri State part-time while also working in Springfield. Ultimately, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from SMS and a Master's Degree in Education from Drury College. Charlotte began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse and retired after many years of teaching in various school districts in Polk and Hickory counties. She continued to have close friendships with many of her former students and colleagues until her death.
Charlotte was also active for many years in summer workshops on the SMSU campus teaching her colleagues how to utilize newspapers in the classroom. During her teaching career, Charlotte was honored to receive the Humansville CT A Educator of the Year Award, the Lakes Country Counsel International Reading Association Literacy Award, a Community Service Award from Drury College among others. Charlotte was a member and past Grand Matron of Eastern Star. Although Charlotte was a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar at the time of her death, she was a certified lay speaker in the United Methodist denomination. She had many hobbies and interests and was an avid china painter.
Charlotte is perhaps best remembered for her humor and her "Talkative Tilly" character was well known at local events. One of her greatest joys was making others laugh, even at her own expense. She also had a true teacher's ability to speak frankly and yet her words were always full of love and encouragement. She was a woman of many gifts and talents including the ability to connect on a personal level with people from all the different areas of her life. Her mothering style was just as passionate and unique as the rest of her. It was her favorite role and she often said she raised her two best friends. Many will vouch that she had a hand in raising them as well.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Doris Burger; her spouse of 53 years, Bill J Hoppers; and a half brother, Hadrian Burger, of California.
Charlotte is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Charla and Steve Lear of Bolivar and Marsha and Rick Floyd of Fair Grove; 3 grandchildren-Jarett (Sarah) Lear of Lenexa, KS, Kristopher (Megan) Keller of Springfield, and Tara (Cody) Williams of Fair Grove; and 4 great- grandchildren-Steven Lear, Truitt and Eloise Keller, and Emmett Williams. She was looking forward to the arrival of her fifth great grandchild and namesake, Ada Charlotte Williams, due next month. In addition, Charlotte has two step-grandchildren Kristy Schuetz and Dustin (Cheryl) Floyd all of Springfield and 4 step-grandchildren Chelsea (Caleb) Ambriz of Springfield, Madison (Stepheny) Hernandez of Conway, AR and Lance and Trevor Floyd of Springfield. Charlotte is also survived by her niece, Sandra Woodward, of La Quinta, CA who she thought of as a younger sister, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, MO on Tuesday, July 18, from 5-7 pm with a celebration of life service to follow on Wednesday, July 19 at 10 am also at Butler Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Crutsinger Cemetery in Hickory County.
Charlotte's family would like to thank Dr Leo and the staff of Central Care Cancer Center in Bolivar for their unending kindness and skill while providing care to their mom. Also, we wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to CMH Home Health and Hospice who helped make a difficult journey more tolerable. Charlotte, who was an avid dog lover, was noted as saying that in addition to seeing loved ones when she enters heaven, that she hopes to be greeted on the other side by a pack of dogs. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Polk County Humane Society or the Central Care Cancer Center in Bolivar. Condolences may be left on Charlotte's online guest book butlerfuneralhome.com.
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