Obituary of Olga "Bonnie" Hatter

Olga Bonnie Hatter was born on October 8, 1931 to John and Ruby Cooper in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was the youngest of six children born to that union. She also had a second set of honorary parents Letha and Harry Cooksey whom she adored. Bonnie was raised in the Lost Creek community of Terre Haute. A tight knit community where she truly cherished her childhood. She would proudly proclaim she was a country girl and there was nothing better than living in the country. Like her father, she loved country music and would wake up to it blaring before her father headed to work in the coal mines. John Cooper’s picture hangs today on the walls of the Smithsonian for being one of the youngest ever to work in the coal mines. Bonnie accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at Lost Creek Baptist Church where she would later return and serve as an Usher. At the young age of four, Bonnie attended Vigo County District 3 School. Bonnie and her older sister, Edith, earned twenty-five cents a week cleaning the classroom. Bonnie was exceedingly bright and graduated Glen High School with honors at age of sixteen. After high school Bonnie attended Indiana State University while working in a sales position in a lady’s boutique in downtown Terre Haute. She would later recall the close relationship with the owner who not only paid her with cash, but also blessed with a wardrobe. Her education was put on hold when she met her soon to be husband, Amos Hatter, a dashing airman stationed in Terre Haute. Amos Hatter and Olga Cooper were married and welcomed into this world five beautiful children. The first a bouncing baby boy, Amos III, and try though they might for another boy four girls followed, Joyce, Olivia, Carla (Renee) and Madalyne (Patty). The couple moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where Bonnie began her 15 year career with Western Electric. Unfortunately, after divorce, Bonnie moved back to her beloved Terre Haute and found employment with Bemis Incorporated where she retired after 21 years of dedication. Bonnie moved to Illinois once her health started to decline. Bonnie loved her family and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She liked to read romance novels, and like her mother, Ruby, was excellent at solving cross word puzzles. It was an ongoing joke that she needed to go on Family Feud, Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune and even with dementia, she’d be deemed victorious. Whether you knew her as Olga, Miss Bonnie, Aunt Bonnie, Granny, Great Granny, or Mom, she was as out spoken, determined and wittingly funny at 89 as she was at eighteen. Bonnie leaves to cherish her memories her only surviving sibling, Edith Thomas, Chicago. Three daughters Olivia, Maricopa, AZ, Carla Renee (Anthony), Chicago, Madalyne Patricia, Indianapolis and grandchildren Alesha, Heather, Derrick, Sean, Erica, Robert L. III, Bryson, Brandon, Brelyn, Patrick, Anthony, Jason, Shana, Kyle Drew, Henry Chase, Perry, And twenty-one great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruby Cooper, siblings Idleleen, Theodore, Richard, John Junior, daughter Joyce and her son, Amos Pete who preceded Bonnie into their heavenly home by two days.