This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marysday Surnames: Rigdon, Cooper, Yost, Connell, Harding, Speed, Crawford, Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oregon.counties.lincoln/5474/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The News Times, Newport, OR 97365 Modified: Wednesday, Jun 30th, 2010 Catherine Rigdon Catherine Josephine Cooper Rigdon, 90, of Marietta, Ga., formerly of Newport, Ore. died June 21, 2010. She was born Sept. 1, 1919 to Dr. Albert Lloyd Cooper and Elsie Rosalind Yost Cooper in Omaha, Neb. She grew up in Scottsbluff, Neb., graduated from the University of Colorado and did graduate work at Brigham Young University and the University of West Florida. Professionally, she taught school in Frazier, Colo. and Portales, N.M. She then served during World War II in the Women's Army Corp and became a sergeant, working as a psychologist. Later, in Pensacola, Fla., she taught special needs children for more than 30 years. She married and later divorced. Then, on Aug. 15, 1985, she married her childhood friend, Melvin Rigdon. They were subsequently sealed in the Portland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on May 1, 1987. They lived in Newport until Mel's death in 1994. In 1995, she went to Marietta, Ga. to live with her daughter, Suzie, and her family. She had a strong testimony of the church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in various church callings throughout her adult life. In particular, she served for over 25 years as district, mission, and then stake primary president. She was active in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, receiving several honors, including the Silver Beaver Award - twice. In her later years, she was active in temple work, served in the family history center and was an ordinance worker in the Atlanta Temple for seven years. She is survived by her five children, Catherine Suzanne Connell, Ella Ruth Harding, Mary Josephine Speed, Edward Lloyd Speed, and Thaddeus Cooper Speed; stepchildren, Melvin Rigdon and Donna Crawford; brothers, Lloyd John Cooper, Albert Yost Cooper and Dorsey Ellis Cooper; 36 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. A graveside funeral service was held at the Eureka Cemetery in Newport. on Saturday, June 26. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.