Melinda Mary Cooper

“To say that the world lost a bit of sparkle is an understatement.”

It is with great sadness that we announce that Melinda Cooper passed away on October 9, 2026, at the age of 69.  On this day, the world truly lost a bit of sparkle.

“Melinda sparkled in every sense of the word-from her beauty and grace to the mischievous observant twinkle in her eye.”  Melinda will forever be remembered for her smile, warmth, generosity, entrepreneurial drive, commitment to her community and enduring passion for fashion.  Most of all, Melinda will be remembered for the long and dear friendships she formed and the family bonds she grew and cherished.  Friends were not simply acquaintances; they were her lifeblood.  She reveled in their company. She was always there for them, and they were always there for her.

Born on April 1, 1957, Melinda was raised in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising.  While Michigan remained an important part of Melinda’s story, Vero Beach became the place where she built her life and made her mark.

Over 35 years ago, Melinda opened Cooper & Co., an oasis of high-end American and European designers located on Ocean Drive.  For Melinda, fashion was not just a profession.  It was something far more personal…more of an art form.  She possessed that rare, discerning eye that skillfully matches color, shape and form.  Her customers did not remain customers for long.  They became friends, and Melinda kept her friends for life.

Her great love story was Rick. After their first date, they were together forever.  They lived for each other.

Melinda could never get enough “family time.” From her Sunday calls with sister Nancie, to time spent with nieces Nora Rose and Zoe and nephew Blaine and their wondrous children, she was in her enthusiastically happy element.  When she married Rick, she also gained an enormous family of in-laws, cousins, and relatives, and she embraced every one of them as her own.  Quite simply, she was a Schaub family favorite.

Melinda was crazy about holidays. Every December, huge red ribbon bows climbed the staircase. The Christmas tree did not come down before Valentine’s Day.  She also insisted she couldn’t cook, a claim her family and friends suspect was the longest running joke she ever played on the world.

She was competitive in the best way, whether the game was cards, mahjong, or anything else with a score. She played to win, with a grin. That mischievous streak never left her.

She was also, though few knew it, a world-class hoarder. She kept everything, including her eighth-grade cowboy boots, and she was not giving them up.  The family would like it known that the boots will be treated with the respect they’ve earned.

Melinda contributed to the community in many ways, including through her annual charitable works with organizations such as the Hibiscus Children’s Center in Vero Beach and was co-founder of Fashion Meets Art (FMA), an event that brought together her love of fashion, creativity, and community.

A Mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church on November 13, 2026, at 10am., followed by a reception at Quail Valley River Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hibiscus Children’s Village in Vero Beach, http://hibiscuschildrenscenter.org/donate-2/

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.