Mabel E Cooper

Mabel E Cooper, 89, passed peacefully in the arms of the Lord early Saturday morning, February 28th, at home with her family by her side. Services are to be held Thursday, March 12th at 10:30 AM at the Sandpoint Methodist Church. Reception to follow. Mabel was born in Joe Batts Arm, Newfoundland to Thomas & Phoebe Elliot. Her father passed away when she was three years old, and her step dad, James Hewitt, raised her & her siblings along with her mother. After finishing school, she continued her education to receive a teaching certificate, and taught kindergarten and 1st & 2nd grades for several years. She soon met Marvin Cooper while he was stationed in Newfoundland during World War II. They were married in August of 1946 in Simpsonville, South Carolina, where they made their home and raised their family. Mabel enjoyed being a homemaker, gardener, helping her husband out in his building business and being a seamstress at Her Majesty . She was very involved in the Mauldin Methodist Church and formed life long friendships with many people there. After Marvin passed away in 1986, she began doing some traveling. Church retreats and senior citizen trips up to the Blue Ridge Mountains were some of her favorites. Twice she traveled with her good friend, Dot Bacle, by car across the country. Mabel was very active and was always up for an adventure. She enjoyed camping, picking berries, knitting, cooking and keeping up with current events & living a healthy lifestyle. She had a positive attitude, always a good word and a strong faith in God. In 2003, she moved to Sandpoint to live with her son, Terry and his family, starting a new chapter in her life. Mabel made many wonderful new friends at the Methodist Church, who warmly welcomed her in. She was active in a number of the groups there, including the United Methodist Women, Morning Glory Circle and serving the community meals. She was also a member of the Red Hat Ladies and participated in morning exercise class at the Senior Center, where she met some dear friends. Mabel had fun participating in many local Sandpoint events, including riding in the 4th of July parades with the Hospital Auxiliary ladies. She also loved watching her grandson, Jared, play soccer and would be out there rain or shine, cheering on him & his team. She found great pleasure in being in the company of children & babies and had just returned home in December, after a10 month stay in South Carolina with her grandson, Doug and his wife Lindsay, where she helped care for her new great grandbaby, Kylie. Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, her daughter, Marilyn, and her siblings Bertie, Ruby and Jean. Survivors include her brother, Gerald (Dorothy) Hewitt of Newfoundland, her sons, Walwyn (Mary) Cooper of Sparta, Tennessee and Terry (Brenda) Cooper of Sandpoint; her grandchildren Shane (Sandra) Cooper, Travis Cooper and Bryce Cooper, Doug (Lindsay) Nicholls and Jared Cooper; her great grandchildren, Jasmine, Katherine and Kylie and several nieces & nephews. Mabel was a little lady with a big heart. She will be greatly missed by many. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sandpoint Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.