ROCKLAND – Elizabeth “Betty” Hooper, 77, died peacefully on Feb. 22, 2016, surrounded by her family, at Knox Center for Long Term Care in Rockland, due to health complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Born in Reading, Pa., on April 1, 1938, Betty was the daughter of George and Edith Cassel Deysher. Betty attended school in Pennsylvania until the 10th-grade; at which time she moved to Rockland with her family the summer before her junior year in high school. She then attended Rockland High School, graduating with the Class of 1956.

In June of that year, she married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Hooper in Rockland. The couple moved to California, where they lived for four years while Ralph was in the Air Force. Returning to Rockland in November of 1960, they resided, worked and raised their family their entire married life there. The couple would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this June.

Betty pursued a career in bookkeeping and became very successful. Over the years she had been employed for several local businesses, including at Armour, Swift, D.R. Call for 15 years, The Reading Corner, Henry Leonard Accountant, and later with Knox County Treasurer’s Office, from which she retired in 2001.

Never one to be idle, Betty kept herself busy with multiple activities and projects. She was a voracious reader, reading anything she could get her hands on, always going to the Rockland Library to get her fill. She was an active member of the Rockland Congregational Church, where she sang in the choir, often singing solos. She was also very involved with the ladies group at church, volunteering her time and cooking for dinners, gatherings and receptions. She always made a yummy dessert or meal. She loved music and it was a big part of her life and she continued to share her gift of singing with the Downeast Singers, performing concerts all over the state.

Family has always been her number one priority. When her children were growing up she loved attending her son's basketball games, following his career from player through coaching his own team. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, spoiling them whenever she could and making sure to give them a big kiss when ever she saw them. She was always up to going out , having lunch and spending time with friends. Always on the go.

Betty loved to take pictures of her family, events and anything special to her. You always knew that she would be there with her camera ready for that special moment and she got them all perfectly.

She loved to walk around town, greeting people along the way where ever she was going. She thought nothing of walking to church each Sunday, the grocery store or Main Street to go shopping carrying her goodies all the way home. She found it both peaceful and calming, and it was something she did every day until she couldn't anymore.

Betty leaves behind her beloved husband of nearly 60 years, Ralph Hooper of Rockland; her daughter, Shelley Crabtree and her husband, Todd, of Hope; her son, Randall “Randy” Hooper and his wife, Loretta, of Warren; four grandchildren, Casey Crabtree of Rockland, Aaron Crabtree of Hope, Sammantha Hooper of Scarborough and Krista Hooper of Warren; one great-grandson, Carson Crabtree of Hope; her brother, Robert Deysher and his wife, Peggy, of Summit, N.J.; a sister, Wendy Wamsher and her husband, Richard, of Fleetwood, Pa.; a niece, Nyree Deysher of Summit, N.J.; and a large circle of friends.

A celebration of Betty's life will be held Monday, Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. at Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St. in Rockland. The Rev. Dr. Seth D. Jones will officiate. Private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Spectrum Generations, 87 Elm St., Suite 204A, Camden, ME 04843 or Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.