Edith H. Cooper

JACKSON, Neb. -- Edith H. Cooper, 82, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at Elms Health Care Center in Ponca, Neb.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca, with the Rev. David Liewer officiating. Burial will be in Ponca City Cemetery, Ponca. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a parish wake service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Edith was born Sept. 2, 1925, in Brighton, Mich., the daughter of George and Maude (Miller) Martin. She graduated from high school in Denver, Colo. She then immediately entered the Catholic Convent in Omaha, Neb., for 10 years.

She married Harold D. Cooper in November 1956. The couple resided in Omaha until moving to Jackson, Neb., in 1972. She was a housewife and mother for the majority of her life. Mr. Cooper preceded her in death on May 10, 1975, in Jackson.

In 1987, she moved to Gloucester, Va., where she worked at Hardees and McDonalds and did volunteer work at Walter Reed Hospital. She returned to Ponca in 1999, where she resided with her son, Rick, until entering Elms Health Center in 2000.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca.

Survivors include four children, Rick Cooper and his wife, Lanette of Ponca, Laura Pauley and her friend, Jeff of Shacklefords, Va., Amy Alderson and her husband, Larry of Lorimor, Iowa, and Pam Jackson and her significant other Harry of Winterset, Iowa; a sister, Linda Seger of Flint, Mich.; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, George Martin, Jack Peterson, Walter Martin and an infant brother.

Pallbearers will be Chris Jorgensen, Norm Olson, Larry Bonowski, Brandon Alderson, Tanya Walsh, Robert Walsh, Michell Cooper and Kim Cooper. Honorary pallbearers will be Nicole Olson, Erica Cooper and Nina Fitchett.