The Cooper family
Sad News: Rosina Cooper, wife of our late maternal uncle Gordon Stanley Cooper, passed away on the 29th February 2020, aged 98 years. Rosina survived Gordon by 75 years. Our thoughts go out to Rosina and Gordon’s son, Gordon and the extended family.
Sad News: Alan Cox husband of Elizabeth (nee Cooper) and Dad to Anna and Robert passed away Aug 14th 2018.
Sad News: Hazel
Cooper
(Hazel Doreen, nee Brice) wife of the late Norman Cooper, passed away on the 24th April 2016. Please follow this link to her dedicated
page.
Sad News: Vel Cooper (Annie, Novello nee Jones) wife of Bill Cooper, passed away on the 14th July 2015. Please
follow this link to their
page.
Sad News: Violetta Cooper (coincidentally, nee Violetta Morse) wife of Herbert Cooper, passed away on the 15th November
2014. Please follow this link to her dedicated
page.
Sad News: Doris Lowe nee Cooper passed away on January 4th 2008. Please follow this link to her dedicated
page.
Message from Rhonda Bartlett. Busselton, Western Australia. tarbart@iinet.net.au
".....if your COOPER's are from the Forest of Dean it may interest you to know that if you do continue to trace them back you will find
that most COOPER's in the "Forest" all stem from three brothers Griffith, Roger and John, probably sons of a William who first appeared in the Littledean parish in about
1698."
WALTER HENRY COOPER 1884-1960 - My
Grandfather
This 'photo is dated around 1928 and was probably taken outside the cottage in Viney Hill where my Grandparents lived with their large
family of 12! My Mum, Marjorie is standing immediately behind her mother, Beatrice. A later family portrait can be found at the site shown on my Family Tree
page.
The following are notes taken from a letter from Doris Lowe, daughter, January
2001:
'Walter and Beatrice would, no doubt, have been married at Viney Hill Church, and from that should come details of where Walter Cooper
lived. I only remember him saying that he cycled up from Wales & back to see my Mum when they were courting! He was a very clever man- mending village clocks (even the headmaster's, Mr H C
Kerwood) and shoes- used to walk to Lydney for the leather; gardening, building, hair cutting, making wine & cider - very popular with the local lads at
Christmastime.
And so you could go on.....we have my Dad's brother, Dick (Wales), Albert (Yorkley) who was an official at New Fancy Colliery and got my
brother Bill (Cwmbran) to the mining school at Cinderford, and a sister, I believe, at Cut&Fry Green with children Bertha & Cora (Vaughan?). All of which I may have got
wrong'.
The following is taken from a note received from Elsie Davis, Daughter, January
2001;
'Besides Richard, Dad had another brother, Albert, who lived at Yorkley, another brother, we think was called Herbert, drowned in the River
Severn in 1923, another brother kept a bicycle shop in Blakeney. Father's name was William, Mother's name was Ann, formerly
Paradise.'
(This is the 1st indication of parents' names from any family
members!]
Note from Graham Cooper, Grandson 18/5/2002...'I seem to remember that he wore a leather waistcoat, but I may have dreamt that. What I do
remember for sure is that I used to go around there and play draughts with him, I guess he taught me to play. I remember he kept them in a sideboard. I remember he would never let me win, but that
was ok. I later realised that I had become quite a good draughts player. I was not allowed to go around after lunch, I think he used to have a
nap.
The following is an extract from the Lydney Observer newspaper Friday June 3rd,
1960.
MR. WALTER COOPER'S SUDDEN DEATH AT VINEY
HILL
Mr Walter Cooper (75) of Viney Hill, died in his sleep at his home last week. Although not enjoying good health, he had been out and met
his friends on Tuesday evening. He died during the night. During his working life he was a collier, mainly at New Fancy. His main interest was his home, and he devoted much time to looking after his
wife, who was an invalid for many years before her death eight years ago. The funeral was on Friday at All Saints' Church, Viney Hill. The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev A.J.Smith. Hymns
were 'Jesu, lover of my soul' and 'The day Thou gavest Lord is ended'. The organist was Mrs
C.R.Johnson.
Family mourners included Mr William Cooper, Mr Donald Cooper, Mr Norman Cooper, Mrs Florence Gleed, Mrs Eva Norris, Mrs Olive Evans, Mrs
Marjorie Morse, Mrs Doris Lowe, Mrs Kathleen Wiggall and Mrs Elsie Davies (sons and daughters) Mrs W Cooper, Mrs H Cooper, Mrs N Cooper, Mr Norris, Mr Evans, Mr Morse, Mr Lowe, Mr Wiggall, Mr Davies
(daughters-in-law and sons-in-law), Mr Richard Cooper (brother), Mrs F Hitchens, Mr and Mrs Hewish (nephew and
nieces).
Other friends attending the service included Mr and Mrs A Watkins, Mrs E Wintle, E Lee, E J Smith, F James, S Lowe, P Brice and S
Wilks.
The bearers from the house to the church were Messrs W Morgan, E Drew, F Lowe, J Lowe, A Ellis, K Turner, D Hale, F Hale, H Marshall, W
Russell, D Marshall and A
Bowdler.
The duties of undertaker were ably carried out by Messrs J H James and Son of
Yorkley.
BEATRICE COOPER (nee BAILEY) 1884-1952 my
Grandmother
Extract taken from the Lydney Observer newspaper dated Friday January 2nd,
1953.
The late Mrs Cooper, Viney
Hill
The death occurred at Viney Hill on Tuesday of last week of Beatrice Mary Cooper (68), after many years of
suffering.
Throughout her illness she was cared for by a devoted husband with a wonderful and unceasing patience which was admired by all around
him.
The funeral took place at All Saints', Viney Hill, on Saturday, the Vicar ( the Rev. Emrys Evans) officiating. The hymns were 'Abide with
Me' and 'Jesu, lover of my soul'; the 23rd psalm was
chanted.
The mourners were: Husband, Will, Flo, Eve, Don, Olive, Marjorie, Doris, Kathleen, Herbert,, Elsie and Norman (sons and daughters),
Novello, Ern, Bill, Rene, Les, Albert, George, Alf, and Violette (sons and daughters-in-law), Dick (brother in law), Elsie, Amos and Freddie Dursley, Mr and Mrs Frank Cooper and many friends and
neighbours.
The bearers were Messrs A Havers, H Brown, H Evans, V Lowe, B Lowe, E Drew, E Smith and M
Hooper.
WREATHS
In ever loving memory, from a devoted Husband; In ever loving memory, Will, Novello and children; Good night and God bless, Flo, Ern and
children; In ever loving memory, Eve, Bill and children; In affectionate memory, Don, Rene and children; In ever loving memory always, Olive, Les and little Roy; Good night, God bless you, Mum,
Marje, Albert and boys; In affectionate memory, Doris, George and children; In ever loving memory, Kath, Alf and children; With ever loving memory, Herb, Vie and children; In ever loving and
affectionate memory, Elsie, Alf and children; In ever loving memory, Norman and Hazel. Other wreaths from Arnold, Percy and Archie Evans; Mrs A. James and family, Old Post Office; Mr and Mrs Brice
and Michael; Mr and Mrs George Lowe, Viney
Hill.
Extract taken from the Lydney Observer newspaper dated Friday 25th December
1953
IN
MEMORIAM
Cooper- Precious thoughts of a
dear
wife and mother, Beatrice
Mary
Cooper, who died Dec 23rd,
1952.
For many long years, did she patiently bear much
pain,
We who loved her and miss
her,
Would not wish her to suffer
again.
From her loving Husband and all the
family.
Both contributions from grandson, Stephen James Morse, Dec
2000