1921 – 2014

LEWISTON — Elizabeth Joan Cooper, 92, daughter of Henry Edwin Taylor and Marion Hall Muirhead, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 19, following a short illness.

Joan was born on Sept. 11, 1921, in Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia, where her father was a member of the Royal Mounted Police. After finishing high school, she completed nurses training and was licensed as a registered nurse. In 1947, she married Everard Leaman Cooper from Kamloops, British Columbia. They moved to Guelph, Ontario. where Joan worked as a nurse while Ev was in veterinary college. In 1953, Joan and Ev established a veterinary practice in Maine. With Joan as assistant and secretary, they practiced for 60 years together.

Joan was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She kept a beautiful home, which she graciously opened to her ever-expanding family and friends near and far, including ones she and Ev made on their travels in recent years while exploring their beloved Canada. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be remembered as a great humanitarian, always offering her help to anyone who had a need.

Together with her family, Joan enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, hiking, bird watching, canoeing, and snowshoeing well into her eighties. She loved the theater, opera and poetry. She was also an accomplished seamstress and an avid reader with a love of learning. Her interest in politics led her to become a U.S. citizen in the 1970s. This enabled her to vote, to be involved and to express compassion for the underdog.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Antone and her husband, Wallace,  with children, Jessica (Steven) Shaw, Leaman (Abigail) Antone, Alecia (Toby) Pineo, Dylan (Valorie) Antone, Bethany (Cea Jay) Pitcher, and Isaiah Antone; son Michael Cooper and wife, Susan, with children Ev Cooper and Silas Cooper; daughter, Marnie Cooper Priest, and husband, Jonathan, with children Clay Cooper, Elizabeth (William) Swihart, Stuart Priest, Matthew Priest and Rosemary Priest; son Henry Cooper and wife, Vicki, with children Calvin (Katie) Cooper and Benjamin(Courtney) Cooper. Joan also treasured her 16 great-grandchildren and her many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ev, of 66 years, on Nov. 30, 2013. She is also predeceased by her parents; brothers, Duncan, Hank, Buck and Greg; and sisters, Joyce and Carol.

Tributes and condolences may be shared on her memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.