Mrs. Barbara Therese Rietema Cooper, 83, of the Laws Hill community, passed peacefully in her home on Monday, August 12, 2024. Barbara was born January 23, 1941, in Patterson, New Jersey to late parents John Warren and Helen Heller Rietema and was the only child. Barbara was a retired special education teacher and spent 25 years teaching special education students at Connelly Middle School, Marshall County High School, and spent her last two years teaching “home bound” students. Barbara also taught adult education classes to adults across Marshall County for ten years. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Douglas Leamon Cooper, Sr.
Barbara graduated college in Boca Raton, Fla. with a teaching certificate before later moving to Tennessee. She attended MTSU where she obtained her Tennessee Teacher’s Degree, and her Master’s Degree in Special Education.
Barbara enjoyed Elvis Presley, her daily soap operas, reading, and her family.
In addition to her husband and her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her daughter, Dana Cooper Norwood, grandson Douglas Cooper, III, and special dog, CoCo.
Barbara is survived by her two sons, Douglas Cooper Jr., Dean (Regina) Cooper, and her daughter, Dawn (Dale) Lovins. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Dena (Chris) Bivins, Aaron (Tiffany) Nunley, Heath (Teri) Nunley, Alan (Destiny) Cooper, Shannan (Colton Wilson) Holton, Shelby (Zach) Richards, Hanna Lovins, Jody (Rhonda) Norwood, David (Misty) Norwood, Eric Norwood, and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 15, 2024, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow visitation at 3 p.m. The burial will be at Swanson Cemetery.
Lawrence Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 203 S Horton Pkwy., Chapel Hill, TN is in charge of arrangements.
