Funeral services were conducted this afternoon for Mrs. J. Sherman Cooper, 91, one of Pulaski County's most widely known and dedicated citizens, a woman who was a friend of Presidents and beloved by hundreds of children whom she taught in Somerset elementary schools.
Mrs. Cooper died early Saturday at Somerset City Hospital after suffering a stroke at her home Dec. 13.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Cooper was involved in political campaigns - those of her father, her husband, two brothers, and two sons - always interested and working behind the scenes and worrying about the outcome of their races in the county and state.
She had become acquainted with Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson through her son, Sen. John Sherman Cooper, who also served as delegate to the United Nations and as ambassador to India and Nepal. She had met them socially and called on them in the White House.
She was a prolific correspondent, writing numerous letters each week especially to "my children" whom she taught during her 21 years as a member of the faculty of Somerset Central Elementary School.
The former Helen Gertrude Tartar was born Aug. 31, 1878, near Cains Store in western Pulaski County, daughter of County Judge Jerome and Margaret Weddle Tartar.
She attended Somerset schools and was the only member of the second graduating class of Somerset High School. She often joked and said she was the valedictorian of her class.
She and County Judge J. Sherman Cooper were married in Somerset June 29, 1899. Judge Cooper, an attorney, farmer and timber dealer, died in 1924. He also served as chairman of the Kentucky Railroad Commission and once was Republican chairman of the old 11th Congressional District.
One of Mrs. Cooper's brother, Roscoe C. Tartar, served as Pulaski County judge and Circuit Court judge while another, Chris Tartar, was Pulaski County attorney and represented the district in the State Legislature.
Mrs. Cooper attended the University of Kentucky, Centre College, and Eastern Kentucky University and taught in the Somerset School System until she was 70 years old.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she had held membership longer than any other member.
When she was in her 80s, Mrs. Cooper fell near her home and broke her hip, but even though she needed a cane or a walker to get about, she was not made an invalid by the accident.
Mrs. Cooper was the center of her family, her seven sons and daughters shaping their lives around their mother following the early death of their father. Her home on Harvey's Hill was the focal point for the Cooper children and their families.
She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Joseph Hardin, Lexington, and Mrs. W.E. Converse, Mrs. Frank Helm, and Mrs. Benjamin Heiser, all of Somerset, three sons, Senator Cooper, Don Cooper, and Richard Cooper, all of Somerset; one brother, Jerome Tartar, Lawrenceburg; and one granddaughter, Miss Rebecca Converse, Lexington.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. today at her home at 501 Harvey's Hill with the Rev. Lee Davis Fisher and Rev. Eldred M. Taylor officiating. Burial was in Somerset City Cemetery.
Somerset Undertaking Co. was in charge of arrangements.
From The Commonwealth-Journal, Somerset, Kentucky - Monday, December 29, 1969.
Mrs. Cooper died early Saturday at Somerset City Hospital after suffering a stroke at her home Dec. 13.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Cooper was involved in political campaigns - those of her father, her husband, two brothers, and two sons - always interested and working behind the scenes and worrying about the outcome of their races in the county and state.
She had become acquainted with Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson through her son, Sen. John Sherman Cooper, who also served as delegate to the United Nations and as ambassador to India and Nepal. She had met them socially and called on them in the White House.
She was a prolific correspondent, writing numerous letters each week especially to "my children" whom she taught during her 21 years as a member of the faculty of Somerset Central Elementary School.
The former Helen Gertrude Tartar was born Aug. 31, 1878, near Cains Store in western Pulaski County, daughter of County Judge Jerome and Margaret Weddle Tartar.
She attended Somerset schools and was the only member of the second graduating class of Somerset High School. She often joked and said she was the valedictorian of her class.
She and County Judge J. Sherman Cooper were married in Somerset June 29, 1899. Judge Cooper, an attorney, farmer and timber dealer, died in 1924. He also served as chairman of the Kentucky Railroad Commission and once was Republican chairman of the old 11th Congressional District.
One of Mrs. Cooper's brother, Roscoe C. Tartar, served as Pulaski County judge and Circuit Court judge while another, Chris Tartar, was Pulaski County attorney and represented the district in the State Legislature.
Mrs. Cooper attended the University of Kentucky, Centre College, and Eastern Kentucky University and taught in the Somerset School System until she was 70 years old.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she had held membership longer than any other member.
When she was in her 80s, Mrs. Cooper fell near her home and broke her hip, but even though she needed a cane or a walker to get about, she was not made an invalid by the accident.
Mrs. Cooper was the center of her family, her seven sons and daughters shaping their lives around their mother following the early death of their father. Her home on Harvey's Hill was the focal point for the Cooper children and their families.
She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Joseph Hardin, Lexington, and Mrs. W.E. Converse, Mrs. Frank Helm, and Mrs. Benjamin Heiser, all of Somerset, three sons, Senator Cooper, Don Cooper, and Richard Cooper, all of Somerset; one brother, Jerome Tartar, Lawrenceburg; and one granddaughter, Miss Rebecca Converse, Lexington.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. today at her home at 501 Harvey's Hill with the Rev. Lee Davis Fisher and Rev. Eldred M. Taylor officiating. Burial was in Somerset City Cemetery.
Somerset Undertaking Co. was in charge of arrangements.
From The Commonwealth-Journal, Somerset, Kentucky - Monday, December 29, 1969.
Funeral services were conducted this afternoon for Mrs. J. Sherman Cooper, 91, one of Pulaski County's most widely known and dedicated citizens, a woman who was a friend of Presidents and beloved by hundreds of children whom she taught in Somerset elementary schools.
Mrs. Cooper died early Saturday at Somerset City Hospital after suffering a stroke at her home Dec. 13.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Cooper was involved in political campaigns - those of her father, her husband, two brothers, and two sons - always interested and working behind the scenes and worrying about the outcome of their races in the county and state.
She had become acquainted with Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson through her son, Sen. John Sherman Cooper, who also served as delegate to the United Nations and as ambassador to India and Nepal. She had met them socially and called on them in the White House.
She was a prolific correspondent, writing numerous letters each week especially to "my children" whom she taught during her 21 years as a member of the faculty of Somerset Central Elementary School.
The former Helen Gertrude Tartar was born Aug. 31, 1878, near Cains Store in western Pulaski County, daughter of County Judge Jerome and Margaret Weddle Tartar.
She attended Somerset schools and was the only member of the second graduating class of Somerset High School. She often joked and said she was the valedictorian of her class.
She and County Judge J. Sherman Cooper were married in Somerset June 29, 1899. Judge Cooper, an attorney, farmer and timber dealer, died in 1924. He also served as chairman of the Kentucky Railroad Commission and once was Republican chairman of the old 11th Congressional District.
One of Mrs. Cooper's brother, Roscoe C. Tartar, served as Pulaski County judge and Circuit Court judge while another, Chris Tartar, was Pulaski County attorney and represented the district in the State Legislature.
Mrs. Cooper attended the University of Kentucky, Centre College, and Eastern Kentucky University and taught in the Somerset School System until she was 70 years old.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she had held membership longer than any other member.
When she was in her 80s, Mrs. Cooper fell near her home and broke her hip, but even though she needed a cane or a walker to get about, she was not made an invalid by the accident.
Mrs. Cooper was the center of her family, her seven sons and daughters shaping their lives around their mother following the early death of their father. Her home on Harvey's Hill was the focal point for the Cooper children and their families.
She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Joseph Hardin, Lexington, and Mrs. W.E. Converse, Mrs. Frank Helm, and Mrs. Benjamin Heiser, all of Somerset, three sons, Senator Cooper, Don Cooper, and Richard Cooper, all of Somerset; one brother, Jerome Tartar, Lawrenceburg; and one granddaughter, Miss Rebecca Converse, Lexington.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. today at her home at 501 Harvey's Hill with the Rev. Lee Davis Fisher and Rev. Eldred M. Taylor officiating. Burial was in Somerset City Cemetery.
Somerset Undertaking Co. was in charge of arrangements.
From The Commonwealth-Journal, Somerset, Kentucky - Monday, December 29, 1969.
Mrs. Cooper died early Saturday at Somerset City Hospital after suffering a stroke at her home Dec. 13.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Cooper was involved in political campaigns - those of her father, her husband, two brothers, and two sons - always interested and working behind the scenes and worrying about the outcome of their races in the county and state.
She had become acquainted with Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson through her son, Sen. John Sherman Cooper, who also served as delegate to the United Nations and as ambassador to India and Nepal. She had met them socially and called on them in the White House.
She was a prolific correspondent, writing numerous letters each week especially to "my children" whom she taught during her 21 years as a member of the faculty of Somerset Central Elementary School.
The former Helen Gertrude Tartar was born Aug. 31, 1878, near Cains Store in western Pulaski County, daughter of County Judge Jerome and Margaret Weddle Tartar.
She attended Somerset schools and was the only member of the second graduating class of Somerset High School. She often joked and said she was the valedictorian of her class.
She and County Judge J. Sherman Cooper were married in Somerset June 29, 1899. Judge Cooper, an attorney, farmer and timber dealer, died in 1924. He also served as chairman of the Kentucky Railroad Commission and once was Republican chairman of the old 11th Congressional District.
One of Mrs. Cooper's brother, Roscoe C. Tartar, served as Pulaski County judge and Circuit Court judge while another, Chris Tartar, was Pulaski County attorney and represented the district in the State Legislature.
Mrs. Cooper attended the University of Kentucky, Centre College, and Eastern Kentucky University and taught in the Somerset School System until she was 70 years old.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church where she had held membership longer than any other member.
When she was in her 80s, Mrs. Cooper fell near her home and broke her hip, but even though she needed a cane or a walker to get about, she was not made an invalid by the accident.
Mrs. Cooper was the center of her family, her seven sons and daughters shaping their lives around their mother following the early death of their father. Her home on Harvey's Hill was the focal point for the Cooper children and their families.
She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Joseph Hardin, Lexington, and Mrs. W.E. Converse, Mrs. Frank Helm, and Mrs. Benjamin Heiser, all of Somerset, three sons, Senator Cooper, Don Cooper, and Richard Cooper, all of Somerset; one brother, Jerome Tartar, Lawrenceburg; and one granddaughter, Miss Rebecca Converse, Lexington.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. today at her home at 501 Harvey's Hill with the Rev. Lee Davis Fisher and Rev. Eldred M. Taylor officiating. Burial was in Somerset City Cemetery.
Somerset Undertaking Co. was in charge of arrangements.
From The Commonwealth-Journal, Somerset, Kentucky - Monday, December 29, 1969.
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