Rose Smith Cooper, age 84, of Malvern, died Monday morning at her residence. She was born on February 2, 1924 in Malvern to the late Charles S. and Hester Roberson Smith. Reared and educated in Malvern, she was a 1941 graduate of Malvern High School. For many years, she was employed at the local office of Arkansas Power and Light Company. Rose's was the first face you would see when you went to pay your utility bill. She was the widow of the late James Cooper, to whom she was married on February 28, 1953 in Forest City, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on September 21, 2004. Rose was a cradle-roll member of First Baptist Church, and in her earlier years, had been a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

She is survived by a son, Charles Weldon Cooper of Malvern; by two daughters, Patricia Rose Lackey and her husband Gene of Sanger, Texas, and Carol Cooper Baker of Yorktown, Virginia; by eight grandchildren, Curtis James Lackey, Steven Austin Lackey, II, Daniel Cole Lackey, Emily Caroline Cooper, Ashley Nicole Cooper, Ryan Jacob Cooper, Christina Cooper Baker, and Cooper Thomas Baker.

Her funeral will be held at ten o'clock Thursday morning, November 20, 2008, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with Dr. Verne Wickliffe officiating. Interment will follow on the family plot in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Pallbearers are: George Green, Kinney Black, Fred Lederer, Ernie Cox, James Stinnett, and Layne Sparks.

The family will receive friends at J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from five until seven o'clock.

Memorials are requested to First Baptist Church Family Life Center.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.