Kelly Colleen (Murphy) Cooper (Desia to her family), 58 of Ventura, California, passed away on Monday, April 2, 2018 in
Los Angeles, California. Kelly was born in Pendleton, Oregon to Mark and Marilynn Murphy on September 15, 1959. She went to Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, CA and graduated in 1977. She went on to earn a degree in Economics from UCSB.
Kelly enjoyed entertaining and cooking for all of her friends and neighbors and always had a welcoming open-door policy. Kelly and her husband Greg enjoyed sailing on their boat E-Ticket, out of Ventura, and were always open to new and fun adventures. Kelly also enjoyed traveling to many places locally and around the world. She loved Mexico, France, England and especially Ireland. The Red Head, as she is affectionately known, had a wicked sense of humor and shared that with the many well-loved friends she and Greg surrounded themselves with.
Kelly is also a well-known instigator of many ideas (mostly good). Kelly inspired her neighborhood friends, The Eva Girls, to hold an annual bake sale that raised funds for several different charitable organizations. Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation in Ventura was The Eva Girls favorite. Kelly could also instigate a good stay-cation in her own neighborhood. If she was on a stay-cation, everyone in the neighborhood was too!
Kelly is survived by her husband, Greg Cooper, mother Marilynn (Jeff) Evans, brother Rick Murphy, sister Pam (Bill) Waxman, nieces Nicole, Alison, and nephew Sean, sister Cindy Murphy, brother Ryan (Priscilla) Murphy, stepmother Marilyn Murphy, kitties Cruz and Abby, numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, many neighborhood kids who always felt the love and spoiling of Miss Kelly and many special friends that she loved and appreciated over a lifetime. Kelly is preceded in death by her father Mark Murphy.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Ribbons of Life Ventura (www.ribbonsventura.org/) and the family
encourages everyone to become an organ donor at organdonor.gov. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the
staff at UCLA for the kindness and excellent care provided to Kelly and her family.
Friends and family will be gathering for an open house on Saturday, April 14, 2018 to celebrate the life of Kelly. For
further information email [email protected]
Arrangements are under the direction of JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura.