AUBURN — Ruth Marcelyn Hersey Cooper died April 10, born to George Henry Hersey and Lotta Viola Story. She grew up in both Vermont and Maine. After graduating from Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, Vt., she studied harp in New York City and attended the Juilliard School of Music having studied with the master himself, Marcel Grandjany.

She was married to Donald Mackay “Rusty” Cooper on Sept. 6, 1948, in West Sumner, by the Rev. Young, minister of Congregational Church in East Sumner. They had three children, Christina Ruth, Timothy George and Donald Mackay Jr.

Ruth taught piano lessons to many students over the years and harp to her daughter, Christina. She created wonderful artistic musical recitals. In addition, she worked as a CNA for Clover Manor in Auburn and helped to support her family with various jobs in both Maine and Connecticut. She was a member of the American Harp Society.

After her husband, “Rusty” passed away on April 9, 2004, she continued to live in Buckfield, where her home was her paradise. She was a member of the Literary Club, the Buckfield Historical Society and the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary. She also earned degrees in the Grange in West Summer.

Ruth moved to the Sarah Frye Home and then to the Odd Fellows and Rebekah’s Home both in Auburn in the last four years of her life, where she received such superb wonderful care. She made many friends who will miss her greatly.

She is survived by two sons, Timothy George Cooper, and his fiance, Grace, of Sidney and Donald Mackay Cooper Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Buckfield; one daughter, Christina “Tina” Ruth Cooper Tourin and friend, Betty Truitt of Mt. Laguna, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Tracy Lynn Cooper Gammon and husband, Bill, of Livermore, Benjamin Allen Cooper and wife, Monica, of Westbrook, Jaime Cooper Tourin and Elysia, of Maui, Hawaii, Krista Jeanine Cooper Spring and husband, Jason, of Mechanic Falls, Elizabeth Farnham Davy Cooper and Chris Walsh, of Abbot, Mischa Peter Tourin of Burlington, Vt., and Rebekah Story Cooper and fiance, Mike Smith, of Guilford; six great-grandchildren, Aiden Timothy Cooper of Westbrook, twins, Jayse Mackay Spring and Jorden Mitchell Spring of Mechanic Falls, Tyler Cooper Gammon of Livermore, Isabel Madison Walsh of Abbot and Jude Koa Hendricks Tourin of Maui, Hawaii.

She was predeceased by five Hersey half-brothers, Herbert, Raymond, Harry, George and Albert; two half-sisters, Grace Zelma Hersey Hamm McFaul and Bessie Warren Hersey, who died young; two brothers, Richard Hersey of St. Albans, Vt., and Samuel Hersey of Phoenix, Ariz.; and a sister, Alice Belle Hersey, who died young.

Ruthie was about the sweetest person you have ever met walking on this Earth. Her beauty, creativity and faith was inspirational. She will be sadly missed by family and friends who knew her but we know she rejoices to be with her mother, family, with Rusty and with God in Paradise.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.