Obituary of Jacqueline Cooper

Jacqueline Cooper of 201 Ridgeview Avenue, Iowa City, died on September 16, 2006 from a stroke suffered five days earlier. Memorial Services celebrating Jackie’s life will be held at 4pm Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Dr. C. Edward Morgan officiating. A gathering for her family and friends will be from 4 to 6pm Tuesday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Jackie’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for her family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Jackie was born May 12, 1933 in Jenningston, West Virginia to Oakey and Gertie Smith. She attended elementary school in Tucker County and graduated from Harman High School in 1950. She attended Glenville State College and graduated in 1954 with a major in elementary education. She taught grade school in West Virginia and in Richmond, Virginia. She married Reginald Cooper, her high school sweetheart, on August 22, 1954 at Dry Fork, West Virginia. They spent the first year of marriage in Richmond, Virginia where Reginald was a senior medical student. In 1955, they moved to Iowa City, Iowa where Reg did his internship. Jackie taught at the Hospital School for Handicapped Children. Jackie was the mother of four children: Pamela Ann ( Jeffrey Thompson ) of Rochester, Minnesota; Douglas Mark ( Margaret Fehrle) of Marshalltown, Iowa; Christopher Scott ( Jodi Lippert) of Iowa City, Iowa; and Jeffrey Michael (Amy Neiers) of DeWitt, Iowa. She has nine grandchildren. Jackie served as an Elder and Deacon in the First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City. She spent much time actively engaged in Church activities, and she served as President of Church Women United. Her faith is epitomized by Proverbs: 5 and 6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” She was a member of P.E.O., Chapter KQ and served as President of the chapter. She was an avid tennis player, won many tournaments, and traveled to various sites around the country to participate in this activity. She was a dedicated walker, bowler and bridge player. She did crosswords, read and went to movies. Jackie and Reg loved travel. They traveled to all of the continents of the world, and recently they visited their 110th country. They went to West Virginia every year to attend family reunions and to keep in contact with their heritage. Most of all Jackie was an exemplary mother and wife. Her love for family and her faith in God were her top priorities. She instilled her love of life and her deep faith into her family. Her children and grandchildren gave her immense joy. Her personality allowed her to make friends with all of those with whom she came in contact. She truly loved people. Friends have described her as vibrant, uplifting, engaging, non-pretentious, caring, adventuresome, and absolutely wonderful. In addition to her husband, children and grandchildren, she is survived by her identical twin sister Geralding Wilking of New Jersey, three other sisters and one brother in West Virginia. She has numerous nieces and nephews. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Jackie’s family and her services.