Norma Sue Cooper

Norma Sue Cooper, 76, of Blytheville passed away at St. Bernards Hospital surrounded by her family on Aug. 23, 2020. She was born in Steele, Mo., to Marion Luther Ham and Clara Ellen Ward Ham on Oct. 15, 1943.

Sue retired from American Greetings in 2012 after working a total of 45 years. Sue enjoyed her retirement by traveling the country with friends and family.

Sue was a long-time member of New Liberty Baptist Church and was baptized on May 31, 1998. In her commitment to the church she decorated for events, coordinated meals for the Young at Heart and drove the Jolly 60s van.

She was the secretary for the Senior Citizens Center Council and enjoyed participating in the many activities the Center provided. Sue loved animals and regularly volunteered at the Humane Society.

She was a great cook! She enjoyed cooking and she enjoyed eating. She was well known for her big Sunday dinners. Sue enjoyed puzzles and was an avid reader, reading a variety of books from science fiction and history to romance novels. She enjoyed sewing and was known to make clothes for her family as well as others. Sue also loved both flower and vegetable gardening. She enjoyed dancing all her life and most recently she enjoyed Friday night line dancing with her buddies.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Lonnie Glenn Ham; and a sister, Ruby Harker. Sue is survived by her husband, Harold Dean Cooper, Sr., of Blytheville; daughter, Lisa Kesterson and her life partner Ellen Fox, of Texas; two granddaughters, Brittney Cooper of Rome, Ga., and Cayla Penn of Little Rock; one great-grandson, Gabriel Colon, of Rome, Ga.; two sisters, Gloria Bottenfield of Blytheville and Kay and Wayne Stafford, of Morrilton; a special niece, Marnie Martin and Ken Martin, of Pensacola, Fla; and many other nieces and nephews.

Her friends and church family will miss her dearly. The family requests that donations be made in her memory to the local Humane Society, American Cancer Society, or charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at New Liberty Baptist Church with Rev. Coy Camp officiating. Burial will be private. Flowers and condolences may be offered at carneyfuneralhome.com or sent to the address of 1501 Byrum Road, Blytheville 72315. The family would like to express many thanks and appreciation for the care and compassion provided to Sue by the physicians and nursing team of St. Bernards Hospital and Medical Center.