Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper, 92, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025, after hearing her children’s voices, listening to her favorite hymns, and being told how very much she was loved by all of her children. Grace was born in Minneola, New York, on February 28, 1933, to Jack and Agnus Coleman, who migrated from England prior to Grace’s birth. Grace attended elementary and high school in New York, where she developed her love and passion for horses, through her father’s work as a racehorse stable manager. Grace was horseback, riding in a basket saddle before she could walk! Grace was very talented musically and briefly attended college abroad in England, studying music. While in England, living with her aunt, Grace gave birth to her first child, Pamela, whom she gave the gift of a beautiful life, by placing her up for adoption. Pamela later located and reconnected with Grace and her family.

Upon returning to New York, Grace met and married her first husband Philip Johndrow. From that marriage two children were born, Emily and Philip.

Grace later met and married Warren Hopper, father of three children, Linda, Warren and Hope. Grace and Warren had four children of their own, Maureen, David, Douglas and Darren. Grace and Warren moved with their children to Montana in the late 70’s settling first in Augusta, where Philip finished high school by traveling by school bus from Lincoln, where the family had moved his senior year. Lincoln had no high school at the time, so high schoolers bussed from Lincoln to Augusta to attend school. Grace and Warren’s four youngest children attended elementary school through early high school in Lincoln. In 1984, Grace and Warren moved their family to Townsend, Montana, where Grace remained until entering care.

Grace loved her family and always did her best for them. Grace and Warren called their children yours, mine and ALL of them ours.

Grace is survived by her seven children, Pamela Akehurst (David), Surrey, England, Emily Rundell (Dan), Lincoln, Montana, Philip Johndrow (Lanette), Georgetown, Maureen Stott (Monty), Pendroy, Montana, David Hopper (Jo), Townsend, Montana, Douglas Hopper (Lisa), Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Darren, Oro Valley, Arizona; her 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Grace loved the outdoors and spent many hours of her life horseback riding, fishing and gardening. Grace also loved making things with her hands and enjoyed knitting, sewing, cooking, canning, baking, making crafts and painting. If a heart needed healing, Grace healed it with making one’s favorite food! Grace was an accomplished and beautiful singer, her tenor voice being lifted in song any chance she had!

Grace was proceeded in death by, her parents, Jack and Agnus, her husband, Warren, one infant grandson and her son in law, Dan.

At Graces request, there will be no formal service. She has asked that small portions of her ashes be shared with her seven children, so they may individually say goodbye to her in their own way most meaningful to them. Grace also requested that her remaining ashes be divided with half being buried with her late husband, Warren, at Fort Harrison, Helena, Montana, and half taken out on one last horse ride in the mountains and released.