Betty L. Patterson Cooper of Slippery Rock (Worth Township), Pennsylvania, passed away at Sunnyview Nursing Home in Butler on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. She was born in Grove City, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 16, 1925, to Charles Patterson and Gladys Grace Patterson.

She married Frank McClelland "Mack" Cooper on March 16, 1951, and he preceded her in death on April 1, 2011.

Betty graduated from Slippery Rock College and went on to teach physical education at Moniteau School District.

Betty was vivacious and brought great energy to whatever she wanted to do. She loved her family and loved working with people.

Along with her husband, she and Mack operated a farm and later founded Cooper's Lake Campground, where they hosted the annual Pennsic War for the Society for Creative Anachronism. This annual event, which brings more than 11,000 individuals from all over the world to the campground for a two-week stay, has been a much-beloved tradition in our greater community for 48 years.

In addition to this event, in 2011, the campground inaugurated the annual Bantam Jeep Rendezvous Festival, which in scope and size is very similar to the Pennsic event and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021.

Betty and Mack enjoyed traveling and visited many foreign countries.

Betty is a member of the Zion Baptist Church and often visited the Slippery Rock Baptist Church.

Until recently, Betty and family enjoyed visiting Florida each winter for two or three months. Survivors include her sons, Kenneth C. Cooper and Alan F. Cooper; daughters, Judith C. (Frederick) Brezel and Cynthia C. (Thomas) Metcalf, all of Slippery Rock; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, David; and two sisters, Peg and Mary Lou. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St. Slippery Rock PA 16057. The Rev. Thomas Meling, pastor of the Zion Baptist Church, will preside. Family will receive friends at the Smith Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, and on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Zion Baptist Cemetery, overlooking Cooper's Lake.

Memorial contributions may be given to Zion Baptist Cemetery Association, 361 Country View Road, Slippery Rock PA 16057.

Those wishing to be invited to view the service via Zoom should email their request to sfhsecretary@gmail.com by 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20.