Tryon, N.C. - Betty Jean Slater Cooper, 76, of Tryon, NC and Kiawah Island, SC died Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at RoseCrest Continuing Care facility, in Inman, SC, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, Born and raised in Bloomfield, NJ, Betty was the commencement speaker for her class of 535 students at her graduation from Bloomfield High School and later graduated from Douglas College in New Jersey.Betty was a caring family person who found joy in serving her community and her Church throughout her life. She was a member of the Junior League of Newark, NJ where she helped develop a "Mobile Museum" program through the Newark Museum which brought artifacts and art to the inner city youth in Newark. She was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Montclair, NJ where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir as well as the Montclair Community Chorus. In 1971, Betty and her family moved to Brecksville, OH. In 1974, the family moved to Frankfort, IL. Then in 1986, she and her husband moved to their home in Tryon, NC. Regardless of where she called home, Betty always gave of herself. She was a member of the Brecksville Garden Club, Prestwick Garden Club, and Tryon Garden Club. She was a member of Chicago Heights Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder and sang in the choir. Betty became an active member of the Tryon Presbyterian Church and choir. Betty was a volunteer at St. Luke's Hospital for many years and she served a term as President of the Hospital Auxiliary and was a member of the Board of Trustees. Betty also gave many volunteer hours to the Lanier Library, the Tryon Concert Association and was elected to the Second Wind Hall of Fame.Betty's passions included travel, camping, gardening, Ikenobo Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), reading, music, dogs, and completing her daily crossword puzzle, in ink of course!Survivors include her loving husband of 55 years, Philip Harry Cooper; a son, Philip Kent Cooper of Louisville, KY; a daughter, Carolyn Jean Cooper Elsey of Landrum, SC; and a daughter, Laura Anne Cooper Hoekstra of Greenville, SC. Betty had four grandchildren; Philip Blake Cooper; Shaun Morgan Cooper; Taylor Lee Elsey; and David Martin Hoekstra. She is also survived by her loving companion, Sniff Barney, her Black Labrador Retriever.A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at the Tryon Presbyterian Church, with reception to follow. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Dr., Columbus, NC 28722 or the American Alzheimer's Association, Mountain Region, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 2880l or Tryon Presbyterian Church, 430 Harmon Field Road, Tryon, NC 28782 .
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