Obituary of Arlene Gale Cooper

Arlene Gale Cooper, 69, of Las Vegas passed away peacefully on Sunday June 17, 2018. Arlene was born on November 14, 1948 in Springfield, Missouri, adopted in Leavenworth, Kansas by William and Mildred Cooper and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Oakhaven High School. A high point during her senior year was meeting Elvis Presley at the Whitehaven Feed Store and he purchased her a pair of moccasin boots for her. She began her career at the RCA Factory in Memphis building televisions. She moved on to the hotel industry in Daytona Beach, Florida and continued this career path in Manhattan Beach, Culver City and West Hollywood, California. It was in West Hollywood where she began her involvement with the LGBT community during the beginning of the AIDS crisis. That is where she made her promise to a dear friend, "I will always support and fight for Gay rights and stay involved." After California she moved back to Florida and worked in Miami and Kissimmee before relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. After the move to Las Vegas she changed careers to the non-profit world. She volunteered at the Reach Out Daycare which had ties to Golden Rainbow. She fostered an HIV child and began her non-profit career with Golden Rainbow, St. Therese Center, QVegas and The Center. Her non-profit volunteer activities have been with Opportunity Village, SNAPI, Sin City Sisters, Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Golden Rainbow and any other organization that needed or asked for her help. She has received the Heart of the Community Award, Saint Hot 'N' Ready, Pride Superstar, Humanitarian Award, Imperial Perfect Princess, Volunteer of the Year Award from The Center and The Dennis and Judy Shepard Family Values Award, just to mention a few of the awards she received during her lifetime. She is survived by her daughter Terri Lynn Taylor of North Carolina, Troy Taylor of Utah and Ryan Madison of Las Vegas. Grand children Michael and Cathy Lynn Taylor of Utah. Step Mother Nadine Cooper of Mississippi, Sisters Cindy Pennington of Tennessee and Lisa Zamora of Texas. Step brothers Tim and Paul Cooper of Mississippi and David Cooper of Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her mother Mildred Cooper, sister Sally Christina Cooper and father William Cooper. A memorial service is planned at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, on Saturday June 30, 2018 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Arlene's favorite charities, The Center, Ribbon of Life, Opportunity Village or a charity of your choice.