Anita Cooper McGraw, 91
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. - Anita Cooper McGraw, 91, formerly of Fanwood, N.J., passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2013.
She was born Jan. 10, 1922 to Lee C. and Alice Brookes Cooper in East Liverpool, Ohio. Anita married her high school sweetheart, Donald E. McGraw, on Dec. 18, 1943 at the Orchard Grove Methodist Church, East Liverpool.
A graduate of East Liverpool High School in 1939 and Kent State University in 1943, Anita taught elementary school in her hometown and later pre-school in Fanwood, N.J. Anita and Don lived in Ohio, Fla., Va., Mass. and Charleston S.C., prior to Don's last assignment with the Armed Services YMCA in New York City in 1960.
Anita and Don raised their family in Fanwood, N.J. from 1960 1984, before retiring to Summerville in 1984. Her beloved husband passed away Jan. 21, 2003. She was also predeceased by brothers, William and Joseph Cooper, sisters, Dorothy Vodrey, Ruth Boyce, Jean Ogilvie and a sister-in-law, Wilma Hester.
She is survived by her four daughters, Christine McGraw of Summerville, Jan Allen of Victor, N.Y., Karen Lafferty of Hague, N.Y., Alice Patchett and her husband Scott Patchett of Hague, N.Y.; two brother-in-laws; Ken and (Jane) McGraw of Plano, Texas, Bob and (Colleen) McGraw of Kent, Ohio, sister-in-laws Mary Cooper and Sue Barnhouse, and 19 nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her nine grandchildren, Erika, Stephanie, and Will Allen; Frank and Dillon Lafferty; Andrew, Joshua, Jamie and Jessie Patchett; and her great grandson Carter Smith.
We will treasure her peaceful and gentle spirit in our hearts forever. Anita's courage and dignity to endure Parkinson's disease for so many years is a testament to her faith and an inspiration for all. We thank God for our mothers' loving friends from her Bethany Church Family who blessed Anita's life abundantly.
Friends may visit Parks Funeral Home on Monday, February 18, 2013 from 6:30 8pm. A memorial service will take place at Bethany United Methodist Church Spell Chapel, Summerville at 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon Feb. 19, 2013.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Sue Knight Sunday School Bethany United Methodist Church 118 W 3rd South St, Summerville, SC 29483. Burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery, East Liverpool, OH at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements by Parks Funeral Home, 130 West 1st North Street, Summerville, SC 29483.
