06/08/2025
Nori Cooper Latimer, lovingly known as "Mom" and "Nanny," passed away peacefully on her birthday, June 6, 2025, at the age of 87 in Tyler, Texas. She was a longtime resident of Joaquin, Texas. Nori was born on June 6, 1938, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, to George Cooper and Mariam Martin Cooper.
In 1958, she married Johnny Glen Latimer while he was stationed at the U.S. Air Force Base in St. John’s. Nori grew up wanting to marry a cowboy and move to Texas. She had quite a shock when she and Johnny moved back to his family’s farm in the Piney Woods of East Texas, which looked nothing like the westerns she grew up watching. The girl who grew up by the sea was then in the woods of East Texas. She became accustomed to her new home and they started a family.
Nori was a trail blazer in her professional life. She worked with various Optometrists in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, Shreveport, Louisiana and Tyler, Texas. Then, while working alongside Johnny, she learned architectural drafting. They later formed Latimer Construction Company in Dallas, Texas. At this time, Nori also acquired her Real Estate License. The family then moved to Tyler, Texas in the mid 1970’s and continued in the construction industry, building homes in the area. Nori was the first “Lady Homebuilder” and former member of the Tyler Area Builders Association, which at that time was an all-male association. In the early 1980’s they moved back to the family farm in Joaquin. It was during this time Nori entered the oil and gas industry, becoming a petroleum landman and formed Nori F. Latimer & Associates, Inc. In the early 1990’s, Nori and Johnny moved to Clear Lake, Texas. Johnny continued in construction and Nori resumed her real estate career. After the death of her husband, Johnny, in 1994, Nori returned to Joaquin, Texas and again entered the oil and gas industry as a petroleum landman until her retirement in 2018.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nori had a heart for ministry and missions. She traveled extensively across the United States, Canada, and South Africa with Blackaby Ministries’ Experiencing God program. She also served with Go Tell Ministries and the Freedom Mission in Logansport, Louisiana. A devout Christian, she was a former Sunday School teacher and choir member at First Baptist Church in Center, Texas, and was most recently a member of Jackson Missionary Baptist Church in Joaquin.
In honor of her husband’s Texas heritage, Nori was an associate member of the William Carroll Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in Center. She also served as president and board member of the Truitt Cemetery Association in Joaquin.
Nori was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and sister. She had a deep love for animals, including her cherished dogs, cats, donkeys, horses, and longhorns.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Latimer; parents, George and Mariam Cooper; brothers, James “Jim” Cooper, Byron Cooper, Harvey Cooper, Tom Cooper, and Ralph Cooper; and her in-laws, John Thomas and Eva Sanford Latimer.
Nori is survived by:
Daughters and their husbands:
Sunny and Bud Worthen of Bullard, Texas
Tina and Keith DuBose of San Augustine, Texas
Sandy and Dave Freiman of Riverview, Florida
Alesia and Steve Whaley of Brenham, Texas
11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter
Sisters:
Ruby Switzer of Joaquin, Texas
Winnie Smith and Olive Sheppard of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Sisters-in-law:
Sunny Menefee of Center, Texas
Cynthia Cooper
Betty Cooper
Sandra Cooper of St. John’s, Newfoundland
Mona Cooper of British Columbia, Canada
As well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Nori lived her life for this moment – when she finally gets to heaven. Some believe that passing on your birthday is considered both special and perfect, as life was complete because it started and ended on the same day, like a perfect circle.
Pallbearers are Keith DuBose, Bud Worthen, Steve Whaley, Dustin Worthen, Brandon Whaley, Derek Wade, Markus Diffie, and Mason Robinson. Honorary Pallbearers: J. D. Dunning, Devon Whitmill, Cooper Wade, Wyatt Sugg, Truitt Worthen, Tucker Worthen, Townes Worthen and D.J. Jackson.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to caregivers Rita Odom and Geana Owen; Vitacare nurses and therapists; the staff at UT Health East Texas Olympic Center, Tyler, Texas and UT Health East Texas Neurological ICU Tyler, Texas; and The Hospice of East Texas, Tyler, Texas.
Services will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Jackson Missionary Baptist Church, Hwy 7, Joaquin, Texas, with visitation beginning at 1pm. Brother Micah McArthur will officiate. Interment will follow at Truitt Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas.
Online condolences and tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com
