Mavis Ellen (Cooper) Kaufman passed away on July 7, 2021 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS at the age of 84. She was born on the Cooper family farm, which is now Wilson Lake, on February 14, 1937 in Russell County, KS to Ralph and Elva (Weinhold) Cooper. She married her high school sweetheart, Marlyn “Sonny” Kaufman, on September 20, 1962 in Omaha, NE. They were blessed with 4 children: Marlis, Monty, Matthew and Margo.
Mavis grew up on the family farm and graduated from Dorrance High School in 1955. After high school, she went to Omaha Baptist Bible Institute in Omaha, NE. After she and Marlyn were married, she worked as a beautician/homemaker out of her home for many years.
Mavis devoted her life to serving the Lord. She was a member of Faith Community Church in Great Bend and attended the “Little White Church” in Bunker Hill where she played the piano during worship and sang. She had a beautiful voice and could harmonize with anyone. She was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers which allowed her and Marlyn to travel to many farm shows to help bring people to Christ. Later in life, Mavis was a part of the after-school care program in Russell.
The Proverbs writer reminds us, “Do not forsake your mother’s teaching for it is a garland to grace your head and an ornament of gold around your neck.” Mavis taught each of us not only with her words but with her life. She showed us in her daily example, that by caring for and serving one another, in the spirit of Christ, our tears will be temporary, but our love will be eternal. As a loving, caring mother, her family was second only to God; and although she has now gone home to be with her Lord, her memories, and kind caring ways, will live on in our hearts for all eternity.
Mavis is survived by her husband, Marlyn “Sonny” Kaufman of the home; children, Marlis Fletcher (Shawn Swift) of Hays, KS, Monty Kaufman of Ellsworth, Matthew (Jolene) Kaufman of Russell, KS, and Margo (Chris) Roberts of Cunningham, KS; sisters, Ina Hendrich of Salina, KS, Irene Cooper of Colorado Springs, CO, Nancy Duryee of Dorrance, and Mayme Martin of Rural Dorrance; sister-in-law, Margie Cooper of Denver, CO; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Mavis joins in heaven her parents, Ralph and Elva Cooper; and brother A.G. Tolbert Cooper; bothers-in-law, Reuben Hendrich and Henry Duryee.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 10:30 AM, at the First Baptist Church in Wilson. Burial will follow at Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday from 2 PM until 8 PM with the family receiving friends from 5 PM until 7 PM at the funeral home in Wilson. Memorials are suggested to the Faith Community Church or Jeff Goss Ministries and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 610 24th St., Wilson, Kansas 67490.