I came to Hillsboro as a child when my father was employed by Hurst & Rosche. I was three at the time. I was born in Graves County, Kentucky. I married Allan L. Hopper in 1977 and we became the parents of two children. Lisa Marie (Hopper) White and Timothy Allan Hopper. I graduated from Sangamon State University in Springfield, IL ( U of I at Springfield) in 1977 with a degree in Communications. I worked for several years for the Montgomery County News as a general reporter and sports editor. I also did photo developing and later worked in advertising. After taking several years off to start a family I began working as a teachers' assistant at Beckemeyer Grade School in 1990, a position I still hold.