ALBANY – Merinda R. (Alsip) Cooper, age 44, Albany, died Friday night at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital following an illness.  Born in Muncie on March 12, 1971, she grew up near Albany and was a 1989 graduate of Calvary Christian School, Parker City.  She was studying towards a Bachelors degree through W.G.U. in business and was almost finished.  Merinda was working in the Human Resources department at Progress Rail, Muncie, and had worked several years for Allied Solutions, Carmel, as a payroll analyst.  She was a member of Bible Baptist Church at Prairie Creek and was the head of F.R.G. through the National Guard in Hartford City.  Merinda enjoyed shopping, reading, being pampered, George Strait, and the color pink; her biggest joy was being a mother and grandmother.

Survivors include 2 sons: Michael William Cox (fiancé: Ashley Warner), Albany, and William Mark Cox, Albany; her parents: Bill & Melissa Alsip, Albany; a sister: Mechelle Whitted (husband: Duwayne), Albany; her grandson: Marshal Cox, Albany, and several cousins.

She is preceded in death by her brother, William Mark Alsip, who died in 1992.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at Meacham Funeral Service, with burial following at Strong Cemetery, Albany.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 12 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association.

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