Katherine Pauline Hooper

Katherine Pauline Hooper, 94, died Thursday, March 10, 2011, in her residence.
A native of Oklahoma, she moved to Louisiana in 1949. She was a member of the National Association of Retired Persons and AARP Chapter 1983, the Calcasieu Association for Retarded Citizens, the Southwest Genealogical Society, and the Southwest Louisiana Rose Society. Mrs. Hooper was past president of the West Calcasieu Association for Retarded Citizens. She was instrumental in the formation of the Sulphur Work Activity Center and the Jake Drost School for Exceptional Children. She served on the Boards of Directors at CALTEC and Sheltered Workshop at Chennault Air Base.
In 1983, she received the "Parent of the Year" Award for Calcasieu Association of Retarded Citizens, also the 1985 "Volunteer Award" from the Sulphur Mayor's Committee for the Needs of the Handicapped. In 1990, she received the award for her Dedicated Service to the Mayor's Commission for the needs of the handicapped. In March 1994, she received the Jeff and Nellie Guidry Volunteer of the Year Award at the Louisiana State ARC Convention.
On May 12, 1994, she received the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Volunteer Award as a representative of the Calcasieu Association for Retarded Citizens. She was named "1994 Volunteer of the Year for the ARC of the United States" during the 45th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 26.
Survivors include four grandchildren, Barry Hanson of Houston, Texas, Mitch Hanson of Carlyss, Matt Hanson of Beaumont, Texas, and Shannon Hanson of Carlyss; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is preceded in death by her husband, Irwin Hooper; her son, Lawrence Hooper; and her daughter, Sandra Hanson.
Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12, in Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Dr. David Holder will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss. Visitation is from 5 to 9 p.m. today, and 8 a.m. until the time of service Saturday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Calcasieu Association for Retarded Citizens, 4100 J. Bennett Johnston Ave, Lake Charles LA 70615. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.