June Cooper passed away gracefully at her home surrounded by her family on Saturday, February 20 ^th , following a brief illness.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Alfred (Al) Harrison Cooper, Jr., and her son, Michael (Mike) Scot Cooper.  She is survived by her daughter, Diane Cooper (Mike) Wallace, and her two grandchildren, Ben Wallace and Page Wallace, who will truly miss their Grandma June!

June, who many referred to by her nickname, June-Bug, was a vibrant woman who lived a full and wonderful life supported by her faith, her family and her friends.  Forty years ago, June went back to school to become a nurse.  She enjoyed her nursing career, focused primarily in in-home healthcare where she enjoyed getting to know the patients and their families throughout the years.

June was also well known in the Chattanooga area and Hixson community for her years of service to so many organizations across business, the arts, her church, her neighborhood, and the special needs community.  She served as a board member and/or officer in the following organizations:  Hixson Chamber of Commerce, Scenic City/North River Civitan Club, Hamilton County Republican Women, Ruritan Club, Chattanooga Little Theatre, United Methodist Women, and Forest Plaza Neighborhood Association.  June was a tireless campaigner for numerous candidates for elected offices in the Chattanooga area and the state of Tennessee.

Her most passionate service, though, was with the special needs community.  She was a founding parent of the Parent Teacher Organization at Orange Grove Center, and she served as president of the Tennessee Association of Retarded Citizens for several terms.  She spent countless hours of service representing the needs of this community on the state and national levels, as well as supporting Orange Grove Center in both their day and residency programs.

June was active in the United Methodist Women for 60 years at St. Luke United Methodist Church.  In the last few years, June moved her church home to Hixson United Methodist Church, where she was an active member of the Gooden Sunday school class.

June loved football and was an avid fan and booster of The University of Tennessee Volunteers for over 60 years.  She loved sports of any kind and was often seen throughout the years cheering in the stands for her grandchildren.  June was 'all-in' for family, as she was a great mother, a wonderful mother-in-law, and a very cherished grandmother.

June's friends were also a cornerstone in her life.  If you were friends with June, you were a friend for life.  Her entire family, including her numerous nieces and nephews, wants to thank all the wonderful friends and neighbors for their support of June throughout the years, but especially over the past two weeks.  In addition, we want to thank Hospice of Chattanooga who has taken wonderful care of her, as well as her compassionate care givers. Her life has touched many lives, and we will all be better having known her.

On Friday, March 12 ^th , visitation will be at 11:30am at Hamilton Funeral Home on Hixson Pike in Hixson.  Immediately following there is the grave side service at 2:00pm with Dr. Chuck Starks, Senior Minister at Hixson United Methodist Church, officiating, at Hamilton Memorial Gardens on Hwy 153 in Hixson, where she will be lovingly placed between her husband and her son.  Donations can be made in memory of June Cooper to Orange Grove Center, 615 Derby Street, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, or on-line at orangegrovecenter.org.

Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services; 4506 Hixson Pike; 423-531-3975.