->ST. ALBANS -- Mary "Ellen" Cooper, 88, passed away on Monday, July 13, 2009, at her home with family.She was born Oct. 17, 1920, in St. Albans, the daughter of Dana and Mary "Lois" Worthen. She was the wife of the late Fred James Cooper Sr., who died in December of 1995.Ellen was a graduate of Hartland Academy and the University of Maine at Orono. She had a long teaching career of 34 years that began in Bucksport and included teaching at Hartland Consolidated, Hartland Academy and Nokomis. She directed many plays during her career and after she retired she continued directing plays for the St. Albans Players for several years.She was an avid fan of the Red Sox. She enjoyed reading, playing Bingo, and having lunch with her friends at the Sunrise. She was always the happiest though when she could get her family together.She is survived by five children, Carol Gilpatrick and her husband, David, of St. Albans, Dana Cooper and his wife, Debbie, of Hartland, Mary Lary of St. Albans, Harley Cooper and his life partner, Randy Webber, of Amherst, and Fred James Cooper Jr. and his wife, Sandra, of St. Albans; her daughter-in-law, Janet Nichols of St. Albans; 11 grandchildren, Angela Ballard and her husband, Christopher, of East Millinocket, Becky Gilpatrick and David Neal of St. Albans, Mary Gilpatrick and Chris Bolstridge of St. Albans, Nathan Cooper and his wife, Tina, of St. Albans, Chad Cooper and Shanann Newbert of Hartland, Terrance Lary Jr. and his wife, Misty, of St. Albans, Jeremiah Lary and Kristy Morse of St. Albans, Saida Cooper and Aaron Nisbet of Brooklyn, N.Y., Steven Cooper of Clearwater, Fla., Teresa Cooper of St. Albans, and B.J. Dunlap and Maygan Hardison of Madison; 12 great-grandchildren, Christina, Brandon, Kara, Kenny, David, Billy, Tristan, Blaine, Dana, Kyle, Nycole, and Ryan; and one second cousin, Susan Donaghy of Milton, Vt.She was predeceased by her husband and a son-in-law, Terrance Lary Sr.At Ellen's request, there will be no public services. A private graveside service will be held by the family.Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the Nokomis Drama Club, Attn: Misty, 266 Williams Road, Newport, ME 04953, in Ellen's memory.To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.shoreynichols.com.Care has been provided by the Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, Pittsfield.