Lucia Angelica Espin Cooper

Jan. 14, 1948-Sept. 26, 2022

Lucia Angelica Espin Cooper was born Jan. 14, 1948, to Rogelio and Mafalda Polli Espin in Tucuman, Argentina, and passed away at the age of 73 on Sept. 26, 2022, in St. George, Utah, from complications of Dementia/Alzheimer disease. She had three older sisters, Mafalda Yoli, Esthela and Ernestina and one younger sister Amalia, who is the only one living. There was an older brother, Rogelio (Roger) who passed away earlier.

Lucia joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 8 along with most of her family in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Yoli and Esthela filled full-time missions in Argentina. In 1973 the family moved to Salt Lake City and later to Mesa, Arizona, where Lucia met and married Gary Cooper.

They lived their first 25 years in northern California in Oakland, Heyward, San Francisco, San Jose and Gilroy where Lucia had much of the care and responsibility of their children while Gary traveled internationally with his work. They moved to St. George, Utah, in 1989.

Lucia was very active serving in the church in Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society.  She was a dental technician when the children went to school and later organized and operated an Elderly Care Home in St. George, Utah for some 15 years in her own home which she redecorated and remodeled for the business.

Lucia had many great talents in cooking, decorating, and as a seamstress making her own clothes as well as for her children and others. There was no task or job that she would not take on. “It cannot be done” was never in her vocabulary. If she had a mind to do it, she would do it. Nothing was beyond her imagination.

Lucia and Gary have three boys Bart, James, Brandon and one daughter Katrina. They have 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family appreciates the loving care given to Lucia by Beehive Homes.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Bloomington Hills 5th Ward building 1130 E. Brigham Road, St. George. A viewing will be prior to services from 10-10:45 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be in the Tonaquint Cemetery.

To live stream services or express condolences, visit the  McMillan Mortuary website.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!