Betty Jean Hooker

Betty Jean Hooker, age 83, of New Philadelphia, died early Saturday morning, January 26, 2013, in Union Hospital at Dover under the care of Community Hospice.

A daughter of the late James and Clara (Maurer) Davis, Betty was born at Bellaire, Ohio on December 29, 1929.

A 1948 Graduate of Uhrichsville High School, Betty furthered her education and became a graduate of Canton Business College. She worked in the sales and account fields for a number of years before joining Aamco Transmission at New Philadelphia. Following her formal retirement, Betty enjoyed meeting new people as she worked for the United States Census and serving as a volunteer at the former Tourist Information Center at Dover.

On October 22, 1949, at Uhrichsville, Ohio, Betty, married Jimmie D. Hooker, Sr. as a couple they reared four children and shared in 40 years of marriage prior to his death in July of 1990.

Betty was baptized on March 24th, 1940, at the Uhrichsville Christian Church and through the years her faith was nurtured at Brownsville Christian Church near Deersville where for nearly a decade the served the church as a pianist. More recently, she was a member of First Christian Church at New Philadelphia.

In her free time, Betty enjoyed the company of her cat Chloe, and visiting with her friends at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center. Sharing her love of music with her family and friends as she played the piano and violin was another of Betty’s passions in life. Additionally, she enjoyed attending musical events and concerts throughout the Tuscarawas Valley, especially those held at Tuscora Park. Betty’s family will long remember her for her beautiful blankets in which she used her sewing, crocheting, and quilting skills. Yet, others will remember her for the countless cookies she supplied to the neighborhood children of the Thornwood Park area of Dennison.

She is survived by her children; Debra Speer of Jeromesville, Ohio; Susan (Billy) Zaring of Columbus, Indiana, Jimmie Hooker, II of Taylorsville, North Carolina, and Jane (William) Purdy of New Philadelphia; two grandsons, Jacob Purdy, and Joshua Speer ; three granddaughters, Jessie, Casey, and Kelly Hooker and Jeff Risley, whom she thought of as a son as well as the Gladman’s whom she considered family.

A sister, Kathy Crosson; two sisters-in-law, Norma Dorsey, and Carol Marsh; a brother-in-law, Dean Hooker; four great-grandchildren, Aiden, Samantha, Ethan, and Evan and numerous nieces and nephews complete the family.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by her grandson, Jeromy Speer; a brother, four sisters; a sister-in-law, Betty and two brothers-in-law, Carl and Junior and her close friend Helen “Punky” Dunlap.

The family will receive guests on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Pastor Jim Borton will lead a funeral service celebrating Betty’s life in the funeral home’s chapel on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Inurnment will take place in the Union Cemetery at Uhrichsville on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:30 AM.

Memorial contributions in Betty’s name may be directed to First Christian Church at New Philadelphia, PO Box 474 New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.