Mildred Elise Gay Cooper, 95, of Ponte Vedra, died peacefully on June 25, 2013, at Vicar's Landing.A longtime resident of St. Augustine, she was born in Garfield, Ga., on Oct. 8, 1917, to Robert Norwood Gay and Ethel Jane Brown Gay. She moved to Jacksonville as a child, graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, and attended business school and the School of Drama in Jacksonville.Mildred was very talented and best known for her many theatrical performances and her creative writing, preserved in her book, Elise's Secret Closet. She was a past member of the Little Theaters in St. Augustine and Jacksonville where she met her husband, Ralph W. Cooper.They resided in St. Augustine for 44 years where she became active in many organizations, including the Woman's Exchange, the Historical Society (where she served as a board member), the Camellia Garden Club, the Junior Service League and the Society of Colonial Dames of Florida. While in St. Augustine, she was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church where she taught Sunday school and served on the Altar Guild. After moving to Ponte Vedra, she became a member of Christ Episcopal Church.Mildred and Ralph shared a love of travel and traveled around the world together. While in Europe they retraced the steps where Ralph served during Word War II. They also traveled to New Zealand and Australia where she loved seeing the exquisite scenery.Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Maj. Gen. Ralph W. Cooper (Ret.), and is survived by her two daughters, Gay Cooper Nightingale (Downing) and Marion Cooper Stephens (Jim); three grandchildren, William Paul Conner IV (Jennifer), Downing Nightingale III and Christopher Cooper Nightingale (Shelley); and four loving great-grandchildren. She is also survived by four nieces and nephews. The family is also grateful for her devoted caregiver, Mellownease Edwards, as well as Haven Hospice.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Augustine. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or the Vicar's Landing Employee's Education Fund, 1000 Vicar's Landing Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.Craig Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.