Driven by her grandson, Jase Hughes, Sidney Cooper waves to the crowd from her convertible seat honoring her as Westboro Lord’s Acre Parade Grand Marshal.

 

There was a great assortment of items available at the auction held in the Westboro Methodist Church Saturday, October 10, during the Lord’s Acre Festival.

 

Madison Lesher of Tarkio made this festive cake and entered it into the cake contest at the Westboro Methodist Church.

 

Local farmers drove their tractors, combines, and grain wagons in the Westboro Lord’s Acre Parade.

 

The Paw Patrol made an appearance in the Lord’s Acre Parade, with Duane Riggins dressing the part. Also pictured is his dad, Justin Riggins.

 

Karen Williams and several kids rode on the legion and legion auxiliary float in the Lord’s Acre Parade.

 

The Tarkio Marching Indians had a busy weekend! They not only marched in the East Atchison Fall Homecoming Parade in Tarkio this past weekend, but the very next day, they were once again playing and marching for a crowd, only this time at the Westboro Lord’s Acre Parade.

 

Sophia Riley carried the Thin Blue Line flag on horseback in the parade.

 

By Beverly Clinkingbeard

Sidney Cooper is a well-known Atchison County personality and, to many of us, a local celebrity. She was selected to be the Westboro Lord’s Acre Parade Grand Marshal and rode in the parade in a convertible driven by her grandson, Jase Hughes, Saturday, October 10, 2026.

What can be told about “Sid” that the local folks of Westboro and Tarkio, even Fairfax and Rock Port, don’t already know? Maybe nothing, but here goes. It was an afternoon chat with Sid on her front porch, beneath the shade tree, and she said:

“I am the daughter of Richard and Edith Pearce of Fairfax, Missouri. My brother is the late Richard Lee Pearce. I graduated from Fairfax High School and Tarkio College. My master’s degree is from Northwest Missouri State University. I taught at Tarkio R-I Schools for 55 years, retired three times, and somewhere in there, I was band director and marched along with the kids.”

Sid is best known for her piano music. She started playing when she was five years old. She took lessons, but also has an “ear for music.” By the time she was in junior high, she was playing for the Christian Church services in Fairfax. Through the years, she’s played the piano for school and church functions, accompanied soloists at funerals and weddings, gave piano lessons, and crashed the all-male God & Man Services. It is God, Man & Sid. And by her reckoning, she said, “I’ve loved every minute of it!”

She also found time to marry a John Deere salesman from Oregon, Missouri. His name was Gary Cooper, and until his death 69 years later, he was the star of her life. She met Gary at a church camp. There are two daughters, Roseann (Fairfax) and Stacy (Rock Port) and four grandsons.

She remembers about 14 years ago, Pastor Hugo Villagrana, who at that time led the congregations of the United Methodist Church of Tarkio and Westboro, knocked on her door.

“You play piano?” he asked.

“Yes,” Sid answered, “I do.”

That started a relationship between Sid and the Westboro and Tarkio Methodist Churches. She plays the hymns with ease and knows them well. Sid expressed what a joy it has been to serve the churches and the community with her musical talent. “I am humbled and appreciative of the people of our community.”

Today, in addition to making music, she says she’s a bit of a “sidekick” to Pastor Bryan Hornsby of the Good News Church in Tarkio and the Westboro Methodist Church. She accompanies him (because she knows about everybody) as he becomes acquainted with the community and is visiting parishioners. She is also a mentor to people who are bereaved. She attended group counseling for coping with death and the many changes that can bring to a life, and she was advised she didn’t qualify. But they also advised her to “keep doing what she was doing.” And she has.

Sid’s philosophy in life is “keeping busy.” This she does. Besides playing piano and counseling, she likes to garden and grow herbs. Her favorite food is lavender cookies and favorite pastime is enjoying her front porch. She waves at folks as they go by. However, the real Ruler of the Household is her no-nonsense Dachshund named Sawyer.

Thanks, Sid, for all you’ve given and are giving to our communities. A “Grand Marshal” you are!