HCR 160

R-196  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-196. House concurrent resolution congratulating Shirley Young Cooper on her
centennial birthday.
                                        (H.C.R.160)
   Offered by Representatives Emmons of Springfield and Morris of Springfield
   Whereas, Shirley Cooper has been a resident of Springfield, Vermont since her birth
on November 4, 1925, and her parents, Sidney and Ethel Young, established Young’s
Furniture and Appliances at shopping plazas in Springfield and Ludlow, Vermont and in
Peterborough, New Hampshire, and
   Whereas, growing up, Shirley Young was one of seven siblings who resided in a busy
household; four of her five brothers were World War II veterans, and she contributed on
the home front as an employee at Jones and Lamson, one of the many Springfield
factories engaged in military-related manufacturing, and as a University of Vermont
Extension service home economics volunteer, and
   Whereas, World War II was personally significant in her life, as that is when she met
her future husband, Maurice (Bill) Cooper, then serving in the U.S. Navy; they are the
parents of two children, her daughter Deanna surviving, and subsequent generations
include three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and
   Whereas, in later years, she served her community as a poll worker on Election Day
and as a volunteer for Red Cross activities, becoming locally famous for providing her
special sandwiches, and
   Whereas, Shirley Cooper was an active parishioner at her local church, sang in the
choir and served as president of the congregation’s women’s group, and
   Whereas, she was an avid skier until 70 years of age and continued her decades-long
passion of knitting mittens to donate to local children until just recently, and
   Whereas, on November 4, 2025, Shirley Cooper, who believes in the importance of
remaining active, became the second Young family sibling to celebrate the joyous
occasion of a 100th birthday, an event the Town of Springfield officially commemorated,
now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly congratulates Shirley Young Cooper on her centennial
birthday, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Shirley Young Cooper, to her daughter, and to each of her grandchildren.
                                                                            VT LEG #387175 v.1