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Eunice Fay Smith Cooper, 92 yrs. old of New Berlin, NY passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017 at Norwich Rehab & Nursing Home with her family at her side.

Eunice Fay Smith Cooper aka “The Butterfly Lady” was born on May 27, 1924 in Anacortes, Washington state to Russell Earl Smith and Fay Estella Lovelas Olson.

Eunice married John Cooper on November 11, 1941.  She is survived by her daughter Joanne (Warren) Kinville Salmon of New Berlin, daughter-in-law Elizabeth Copper and companion Al Kent of Fort Plain, daughter, Jeanne Stevens of Sumter, SC and son, Gerard (Laura) Cooper of Laurel, MD.

She was predeceased by her parents, brother, Russell (Bus) Smith, brothers, Stan and Elsworth Olson, her husband John, son, John Michael (Mike) and granddaughter, Robin Cooper.  She is survived by grandchildren; Richard (Amy) Kinville, Daniel (Billie-Jo) Kinville, Dawn Desmarteau, Anna Wilson and companion Kenneth, Cathy-Ann (Scott) Sheen, John Robert (Kayla) Kiehart, Jenny (Mike) Rascoe, Lori Shourds, Jodi (Jeremy) Odell and Noel (Jay) Ogden.  She is also survived by 23 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren with one more due any day.

Eunice was involved with Cub Scouts and the Van Hornesville Fireman’s auxiliary in the 60’s.  When they moved to Richfield Springs, she opened a gift shop called the “Cooperage”.  The shop featured her dry flower arrangements among other things.  She was active in Lioness and Garden Club and was a Lay Speaker for the area churches.  When her husband died, she started working for the Farmers Museum and Fenimore House in Cooperstown as a guide.  She loved this work and stayed for 20 years retiring in her 80’s, only when she could no longer travel the distance from New Berlin to Cooperstown.  She had moved from Richfield Springs to New Berlin to be close to her daughter.  She was a talented writer of poems and loved working in her flower gardens and making note cards to give away to pe ople who might need them.

According to her wishes, Eunice will be cremated.

Eunice would tell people that when she died, the butterflies would take her to heaven, not Angels.

Contributions in Eunice’s memory may be made to her favorite charities; Boys Town, Covenant House and Habitat for Humanity.