Joyce Raines

FORT OGLETHORPE — Joyce Cooper Raines, 87, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at a local health care facility. She was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga and North Georgia area where she attended East Chattanooga Baptist Tabernacle. After her graduation from Central High School in 1949 she attended Erlanger’s Medical School becoming an LPN. She began her career at the Diagnostic Center in Chattanooga and went on to work many years at Hutcheson Medical Center. After her retirement she worked for various nursing homes throughout the area. She loved her family, reading, cooking, and collecting dolls. Joyce was a strong lady who loved patient care and being a nurse. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Ray Cooper; parents, Clinton and Gladys Stansberry; and sisters, Norma Jo Stansberry and Robbie Dean Stansberry. Survivors include her children, Michael (Debby) Cooper, of Ooltewah, Kerry R. (Rene) Cooper, of Fairview, Lisa Cooper, of Ft. Oglethorpe, Susan (Kevin) Andrews, of E. Brainerd, and Cathy Hatcher, of Ringgold; brother, Ricky (Betty) Stansberry, of Harrison; sister, Shirley (Jim) Thompson, of Cleveland; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Pruitt Health Care in Ft. Oglethorpe for their care during this time. Condolences may be sent to www.lane-southcrestchapel.com. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Rev. Jim Bennett officiating. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, located at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.