Barbara Baybarz Cooper

Barbara shared her warmth, generosity, and wisdom with everyone she met. She lived a long and wonderful life. She was an extraordinary Mother, Wife, Sister and Aunt who leaves a legacy of love and leadership.

Born in 1937 in Rockwood Tennessee, she graduated Rockwood High School in 1955 and moved to Knoxville Tennessee to attend Saint Mary’s Nursing School. She met her first husband while attending nursing school and left to become a Wife and Mother. She returned to Saint Mary’s and finished her education receiving her Registered Nursing Diploma with honors in 1971.

After becoming widowed in 1973 she began her career in nursing. A career included positions with Planned Parenthood, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Park West Hospital all in Knoxville. She married her second husband in 1976. But her true calling was found at Shannondale Retirement Center where she worked for 20 years becoming the Director of Nursing. She was active in the Tennessee Directors of Nursing Association and served as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President. She was named Member of the year by the DOA in 1999.

After retiring from Nursing in 2000 Barbara & Joe moved to Atlanta to be closer to her son. She is survived by her son and son-in-law Jeff Baybarz & John Board of Atlanta GA; Sister-in-law & niece, Sue Reed & Pennie Cummins of Knoxville TN; Brother-in-law & wife Dean (Evelyn) Cooper of Knoxville TN; niece Tessa (Darrin) Neff of Loganville GA; nephew Eric (Kim) Jones of Dacula GA, and great niece & great nephews.

She is preceded in death by her first husband Russell Baybarz & her second husband Joe Cooper, parents Ruben & Hazel McNelly, sisters Joan Huddleston & Linda Bain.

A graveside service will be held at a future date with interment at Greenwood Cemetery Knoxville TN. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Kidney Foundation in honor of Barbara B. Cooper.