Beatrice Cooper Carswell (Epley) 88

Beatrice Cooper Carswell (Epley) 88, of Valdese, NC died Monday, December 9, 2013 at McCurry Family Care Home, Morganton, NC. Born April 9, 1925 in Burke County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Marshall F. and Edith Jenette Berry Cooper. Early in her childhood, Beatrice’s mother died and she was raised by her uncle, the late William Owens Berry. During World War II, she and her sister, Parthenia, worked as riveters in Detroit, MI. For twenty-five years, she and her sister owned and operated the Beauty Nook Salon. She also worked in Burke County Schools and was a retired employee of Broughton Hospital. Beatrice was a member of First Baptist Church, Valdese. In addition to her parents and uncle, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Nunn Carswell, Albert Epley, and Norman Brown; two infant sons; and siblings, Norman Cooper, Mozelle Cooper Poteat, John Cooper, Hoyt Cooper, Rachel Cooper Robinson, and Jack Raxter.Surviving are her sons, Gregory Carswell and Bradley Carswell and wife, Gayla all of Valdese; a sister, Parthenia Short of Valdese; a brother, Billy Christopher Cooper and wife, Debbie of Valdese; a daughter-in-law, Pat Drinkard of Hickory; grandchildren, Mary Aloise Vitrone and husband, Mark, Blake Owen Carswell, Jane Carswell, and Neal Carswell; great grandchildren, Marianna and Makenna Vitrone; step-sons, Tracy Epley, Steve Brown, and David Brown and families; numerous extended family members; and caregivers for the past two years, Derrick and Dawn Lewis.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2013 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with the Rev. Timothy Horldt officiating. Entombment will follow in Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour before the service. Memorial gifts may be made to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658