LOUISE SHAFFER COOPER



Louise Cooper went to be with the Lord as she peacefully passed away in her sleep on May 6, 2013 in Clermont, Florida at the age of 98. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all who were blessed to know her. She was the daughter of Russell Reitzel Shaffer and Edith Steiger Shaffer of Mercersburg, PA where she was born on April 4, 1915. The eldest of three daughters, she would have been the first of her family to go to college, but the Great Depression interfered, so she went to secretarial school instead. Louise met her husband, John Byrne Cooper, while employed at a resort on a Pennsylvania mountain top. She and Byrne were married September 7, 1941 just before the outbreak of the Second World War and moved to Baltimore, Maryland where Byrne worked at the naval shipyard and the first two of their three children were born. After the war, the family moved to Lakeland, Florida, where near the local college campus they purchased a small soda shop which became a favorite after school spot for the college students. Later the family briefly moved to a small farm on the outskirts of Lakeland before moving back into the city. As her children became older, Louise worked as secretary for the Florida Citrus Commission and International Minerals. Always a part of the lives of her children and grand children, she served as Cub Scout den mother and Girl Scout leader as well as in her children's PTA. Her many community activities included being a contestant in the Mrs. Lakeland Beauty Pageant. An avid and active church member, Louise was a long time member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lakeland and after the family moved to nearby Lake Wales, FL, she continued her church affiliation with the First United Methodist Church where she was active in the United Methodist Women and served for many years as youth director. After her husband's death in 1980, she moved to Clermont, FL to be near her daughter and son-in-law and their two children who she adored, happily babysitting at every opportunity. Louise continued her church stewardship with the First United Methodist Church in Clermont, often driving older parishioners to church activities. Always active, along with her church and school activities, she also enjoyed flower gardening, serving as president and Life Member of the Clermont Gardening Club, winning many awards for her arrangements and proudly attending annual Florida School Volunteer Conferences and State Garden Club Conventions. For many years Louise also represented World Book Encyclopedia, attending their International Achievement Conference each year. She especially enjoyed traveling, visiting Atlanta, Georgia and Denver, Colorado to spent time and baby sit with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When her husband passed away, Louise became a world traveler, visiting many countries throughout Europe and Asia. She loved traveling with her sister, Janet, and with her church groups. Among the sights she often recalled were cruising on the Mississippi, the Grizzly Bears and Caribou of Alaska, the Great Wall of China, whale



watching in Hawaii, Greek temples, mosques in Turkey and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. She enjoyed the fall foliage in New England and many of the National Parks throughout our nation.



Louise was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, John Byrne Cooper, her sisters, Mildred Shaffer Hiscock and Janet Shaffer McLaughlin and her granddaughter, Paige Meredith Birgfeld. She is survived by her three children, John Byrne Cooper, Jr. and his wife, Jane, Carol Suzanne Birgfeld and her husband, Frank, and Nancy Louise Ladd and her husband, Dale. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, John Byrne Cooper III (Ginger), Tracy Diane Patterson (Randy), Julie Allison Denison (Craig), Scott David Cooper (Colby), Craig Brendon Birgfeld (Cally), Amy Louise Ladd and Brian John Ladd. Other survivors include her 12 great-grandchildren, Chance and Paxton Cooper; Annabel Cooper; Grace and Ben Patterson; Cooper Denison; Cade, Bryn and Harper Birgfeld; and Jess, Taft and Kohl Dixon.



A memorial service for Louise will be held at 3:00 PM on May 19, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Clermont, FL. The Reverend Doug Kokx will officiate.



In lieu of flowers the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Louise's name be directed to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778 or to the Clermont First United Church Youth Scholarship Fund, 950 7th St. Clermont, FL 34711.