February 11, 1937 — June 9, 2016
Mary Ruth Cooper, 79, passed away June 9, 2016. She was born February 11, 1937, in Vidalia, Georgia to Steven E. Kirkland and Mary Evelyn Temples. She married Tom Cooper November 28, 1963, in Vidalia, Georgia.
Ruth worked over 20 years at Dicks Café in St. George as a hostess and waitress. She loved being around people and listening to their stories and giving advice. She was well known for her more than 20 years of service working at Nisson’s Variety hardware store in Washington, Utah. She really enjoyed the hometown people and community, she loved to cut material and give ideas out to all who welcomed it.
Besides being a hard worker her whole life, she loved being a mother more than anything. Ruth loved to sew and quilt while also giving homemade gifts for Christmas to her kids and grandkids. Raising eleven children, she enjoyed watching them become a parent themselves. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are one of her greatest joys.
She was an amazing mother to more than her own children, including having helped raise many of her own siblings, who call her “Mother Ruth”. Aunt Ruth always kept her home open, the coffee hot, and the sweet tea cold. There was always room at the dinner table for “one more.”
Although later in life with her memory being slowly taken away, she often talked about babies, material, and her children.
Ruth will be remembered for her love and kindness towards others, being a hard worker, her love for baking and cooking, and never-ending love and devotion towards her family. Ruth showed her love for the Lord by the way she lived her life.
She is survived by her husband, Tom Cooper of Washington, Utah; her children, Tommy Cooper of Washington, Utah, Mike Cooper of St. George, Utah, Rosemary (David) Sedgwick of Washington, Utah, Belinda (David) Rupp of North Collins, New York, Crystal (Mike) Newman of Salt Lake City, Utah, Heather (Jeff) Wade of Washington, Utah, Jody (Neicole, JJ) Cooper of Tooele, Utah, Heidi “Snishie” Cooper of Washington, Utah, Dent (Sarah) Cooper of Washington, Utah, Ben (Brandy) of Taylorsville, Utah and Randy (Sarah) of St. George, Utah; 33 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren (One on the way); 12 brothers and 4 sisters.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Steven Emerson Kirkland, Mary Evelyn Kirkland, and Sylvia Kirkland; sister, Trudy Goodman, and nephew James “Little James” Kirkland.
Funeral Services
- Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah.
- There will be a viewing Thursday, June 16 from 6-8 p.m. and again Friday prior to services from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Mortuary.
- Interment will take place in the Washington City Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Spilsbury Mortuary, 435-635-2212.
For condolences, full obituary, and funeral listings please visit Spilsbury Mortuary online.