Jeri Lee Cooper

Jeri Lee Cooper 

Sept. 24, 1954 - Sept. 30, 2023 

Jeri Lee Cooper, 69, of Basin, Wyo., was called home to her Lord and Savior Sept. 30.  

She was born in Scobey, Mont., Sept. 24, 1954, to Magne and Almareta Hammar. Scobey, Mont., was home to Jeri until she graduated from Scobey High School in 1972. She attended Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University) in Billings, Mont., majoring in physical education and health, with a minor in accounting. After receiving her degree, she moved to the Big Horn Basin where she found her permanent home and began her career as a teacher and swim coach in Greybull, Wyo.  

Greybull is where she met the love of her life, David Cooper. The two were married in July of ‘78 and spent 45 years building a lifetime of wonderful memories together. Dave and Jeri made their home in Basin and raised their family there.  

Jeri was passionate about her role as a P.E. teacher and swim coach. She cared for each student that walked through her gymnasium doors. Living across the street from the city pool growing up, Jeri developed a passion for swimming early in life and was lucky to be able to share that with her students teaching them to swim. Jeri enjoyed passing on her love of swimming so much she spent quite a few years managing the local pool in Basin and coaching high school swimming. She taught in Greybull, Wyo., for 33 years before retiring to enjoy more time with her husband Dave and their many grandchildren.  

She was an active member of First Baptist Church, devoting her time to serving her church family. She was always willing to lend a hand and filled many roles at church over the years. She taught Sunday school, organized Christmas pageants, and served as a deaconess. She helped build a new church in 2000 and spent the following years welcoming and witnessing to a new generation of families at First Baptist.  

Jeri was always up for an adventure and liked to travel with her best bud, her husband Dave. Their home in Basin was located conveniently for them to partake in many of their favorite activities; whether taking off for Yellowstone, heading to the lake with their boat, or to the Big Horn Mountains. After retiring in 2010, Dave and Jeri had the opportunity to do some more traveling from Alaska to Cancun; a couple special trips to Curacao and many places in between with family and friends.  

Jeri always knew what was important in life. She was fiercely loyal, was generous with her care and love for others, and was a faithful follower of her Savior Jesus Christ. Her example of love will continue to live on in the hearts of those that knew her best.  

Jeri is preceded in death by grandson Andrew Cooper, and sister Anita (Vern) Steiner, and is survived by husband Dave Cooper, son Aaron (Genevieve) Cooper, daughters Sarah (Jason) Hoyem, Jennifer (Randy) Kirk, and Lindsey (Luke) Mulford, 11 grandchildren and sister Mary-Ann (Richard) Vance.  

Memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Basin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6.