Evelyn R. (Tyler) Cooper, 91, of Florence, passed away Saturday, Feb. 1,
2014, at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital after a period of declining
health.
She was born April 2, 1922, to Eddie L. Tyler and Mary W.
Barrett of Brattleboro, Vt. After graduating from Brattleboro High
School in 1939, Evelyn continued her studies at Cooley Dickinson
Hospital's School of Nursing, graduating in 1943.
After working
one year in surgery at the hospital, she joined the U.S. Navy Nurse
Corps as an ensign in 1944. Evelyn served at the U.S. Naval Hospital at
Newport, R.I., and attained the rank of Lt. J.G. by the time she was
discharged in 1946. Following her discharge, she resumed nursing at
Cooley Dickinson Hospital as head nurse on the maternity ward. It was
both fitting and comforting that her hospital room this past week in the
CCU overlooked the McCallum Building, where she had spent so much time
earlier in her life.
Evelyn married the late Russell Cooper Feb.
22, 1949, the owner of Cooper's Dairyland of Northampton. Together they
worked to expand Russell's dairy business, which grew to become Cooper's
Corner in Florence, and the State Street Fruit Store in Northampton. At
the same time, Evelyn raised three sons, Ed, Ron and Rich. She was a
devoted mother and grandmother who enjoyed knitting, picking berries,
and making jams and applesauce. Her grandchildren could always count on a
newly knit hat or mittens at Christmas time. In retirement, Evelyn
continued to help out at the stores, stocking and dusting shelves,
walking to the bank, and otherwise pitching in as needed. She was
happiest when she had a task to do or a project to complete.
A
member of the Florence Congregational Church, Evelyn was especially
active in the Friendship Circle and the Holiday Bazaar workshops. She
was also a member of the Betty Allen chapter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution and the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Nursing School
Alumni Association. She was active in other community endeavors
including Quota Club and Zonta Club. She and Russ hosted the Kiwanis
Club meeting in which the seeds of the Northampton chapter of Dollars
for Scholars were sown.
Evelyn is survived by her son Richard and
daughter-in-law Catherine Kay of Florence; by daughters-in-law Lynn
Cooper of Westhampton and Jan Spearance of Sunderland; by grandchildren
Brian and Rie Cooper, Jonathan and Melanie Cooper, Heather and Kevin
Marino, Emily Cooper, Rebecca, Ben and Andrew Cooper; by her
great-grandson Cooper X. Marino; and by a step-daughter, Nancy Maynard
of Tacoma, Wash. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Eleanor Tyler
and nieces Arlene Tyler and Norene (Ron) Jones.
Evelyn was
predeceased by her husband Russell Earl Cooper in 1984, by her sons Ed
(1996) and Ron (2004), and by her brother Stuart Tyler.