Kayla “Kai” Nicole Cooper

Kayla “Kai” Nicole Cooper

Kayla “Kai” Nicole Cooper of Athens, OH, passed away on February 17, 2023, at the age of 23. She was born on April 28, 1999, in McKees Rocks, PA. 

Kayla was a 2016 graduate of Meigs High School, where she was a member of the Meigs Color Guard. In 2020, she graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s degree in Screenwriting and Producing, a minor in Psychology, and a corollary in Sociology and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. At the time of her passing, Kayla was working on her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Trauma at Walden University. She was employed at Chipotle in Athens for almost three years and was a certified trainer. She loved her job and her Chipotle family. Kayla was passionate about learning, music, and writing. Some of her favorite things were anything Star Wars and Marvel themed, horror movies, and Funko Pops. 

She is survived by her parents, Helen and Gary Pickens, of Pomeroy, OH; her sisters Kaitlyn Cooper of Athens, OH, Kelsee Pickens of Syracuse, OH, and Isabella and Christina Cooper of Burgettstown, PA; her biological father John Cooper Jr. of Joffre, PA; her uncle William Geisler III of New Middletown, OH; her aunt Amber (Doug) Redd of Washington, PA; her paternal grandparents, John Sr. and Sharon Cooper of Burgettstown, PA; her grandfather Gary Pickens of Middleport, OH; her cousins Ben and Emma Redd of Washington, PA, and Benny Wilson of Salem, OH; her feline fur babies Raven, Loki, and Ahsoka; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

Kayla was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Jacqueline Mander and William Jr. and Sara Geisler, as well as her aunt Christina Cooper. 

Her wish was to be cremated, and Leaf Cremation in Columbus, OH, is handling these details for her family. A Celebration of Life Ceremony honoring Kayla will be held at a later date.