Margaret "Bertille" Norris Cooper, 89, of St. Inigoes, MD passed away August 4, 2014 at St. Mary's Nursing Center. Born June 4, 1925 in Beachville, MD she was the daughter of the late William E. Norris and Annie G. Unkle Norris.

Bertille graduated from St. Michael's school in 1943. She was employed by the United States Postal Service as a Postmaster until her retirement in 1990, after 29 years of dedicated service. She was honored with Postmaster of the Year Award in 1989. She was an active member of the community for many years, in which she supplied countless baked goods for many functions. She served as a field editor for Taste of Home Magazine. She was a Life Member of the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and the National League of Postmasters. She was also a former member of NARFE and AARP.

Bertille is survived by her children, Phillip R. Cooper, Jr. (Jacqie) of St. Inigoes, MD, Joseph H. Cooper (Lydia) of Lusby, MD, William E. Cooper (Alice) of Ridge, MD and Mary Ann Bean (Parran) of California, MD; 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband, Phillip "Roy" Cooper, Sr.; her son, John Walter "Jack" Cooper; her siblings, Mary Adelaide Trossbach, Caroline Ann Trossbach, William Emerick "Booty" Norris, Grace Elder Gibson, and Joseph Carroll Norris; and her grandson, William Edward "Billy" Cooper, Jr.

Family will receive friends for Bertille's Life Celebration on Thursday, August 7, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with prayers recited at 7:00 p.m., followed by RIDGE VFD Auxiliary prayers, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 16566 Three Notch Road, Ridge, MD 20680. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Peter Giovanoni on Friday, August 8, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Steve Cooper, Sam Cooper, Brian Cooper, Bradley Cooper, PJ Bean, and Joe Bean. Honorary pallbearers will be the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Archangel Scholarship Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 259, Ridge, MD 20680; Alzheimer's Association of Maryland, 10665 Stanhaven Place, Suite 205D, White Plains, MD 20695; and St. Mary's Nursing Center, P. O. Box 518, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.