Rita Marie Cooper, 59, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 23, 2020 with her children by her side. Rita was born on March 19, 1961 in Portsmouth to the late Jackson Cooper and Rhoda Fern Richard Cooper.

Rita was a fun-loving spirit who loved to make everyone laugh and smile. Everywhere she went, Rita made new friends and left a lasting impression.

She is survived by her children; Kristina (Matthew) Gorr and Jarrod (Brittney) Day, both of Columbus; two grandchildren, Jacob and Vera Gorr; two brothers, Roger Thatcher of Lynx and Sherman Thatcher of Xenia; two sisters, Sheila (Wayne) Mahaffey of Xenia and Carolyn Pennington of Otway. In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Aubrey June Day and brother, Donnie Thatcher.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Botkin Hornback Funeral Home in Otway. Due to the pandemic, a small graveside service will be held for her closest family. A memorial service will be held in 2021.

In memory donations can be made to the CDC Foundation's COVID-19 relief efforts: www.give4cdcf.org