Mary Jo Bell Cooper

MALTA – Mary Jo Bell Cooper, 79, of Malta, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at her home with her family by her side.

She was born on Aug. 10, 1933, in Oakley, Idaho, the daughter of Joseph Floyd and Jennie Mae Rytting Bell. She received her education in Oakley and graduated from the Oakley High School in 1951. She married the love of her life, Donald Jay Cooper, on May 25, 1952, in Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1969.

Mary Jo worked at several different occupations prior to working for the Raft River School Lunch program where she retired in 1995 following 25 years of service. She then worked with her daughter, Ellen, at the Desert Dog Café in Malta until it closed in 2007.

She was a member of the LDS Church where she had taught in the Primary, worked in the Young Women and coached church volleyball and softball teams. She enjoyed gardening and loved following her son, Kent Cooper, on the rodeo circuit. She was an avid country music fan and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters, JoDean (Delbert) Hutchison and Ellen Cooper-Telford both of Malta, Idaho, and Connie (Keith) Waymire of Howe, Idaho; her sister, Sonja Bricker of Malta, Idaho; a sister-in-law, Eva Bell of Oakley, Idaho; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren (with three on the way).

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Pamela Dawn Neddo; her son, Kent Jay Cooper; and her brothers, Leland, Gene, and Gary Bell.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Malta LDS Church with Bishop Brad Hutchison officiating. Burial will be in the Oakley Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.