Nadine Salisbury Cooper

Our beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend, Nadine Salisbury Cooper, returned home to her Heavenly Father on August 11, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.
Nadine (Nay) was born May 27th, 1938 in Salt Lake City Utah to Jesse and Alice Salisbury. Nay was raised in Bountiful and Salt Lake City by her father Jesse and “mom” Ruth Cooper Salisbury.
Therlo, her stepmoms baby brother, had just returned from the marines and they quickly fell in love. On April 12th, 1958 Nay ran off to Vegas to marry Therlo Cooper at The Little Chapel Around the Corner, forever putting a kink in our family tree. On May 13, 1964 this marriage was solemnized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
On November 5th, 1958 Nay welcomed her one and only son, Leon Nelson. After several failed attempts at expanding her family Nay realized Leon was destined to be an only child. “Aunt Nay”, as she was known by everyone, had enough love in her to provide for dozens of children. This led to her being the best Aunt Nay the world could have asked for, a bonus mom to many nieces and nephews.
Aunt Nay worked in her sister Marjorie’s daycare center, creating a very special bond that on her 80th birthday several kids she had cared for 30 years earlier showed up to give her love. She babysat in her house for 3 generations of kids, each swearing they were Aunt Nays favorite. It was common to pick your kids up from her with new clothes, professional “JC Penney” photos, a new stuffed toy, and a McDonalds happy meal. The $5-$15 she was paid to babysit was spent 3 times over on them.
Aunt Nay loved to shop. It was a shock when K-mart went out of business, she alone had to have spent enough to keep them going. Luckily with K-mart gone she was able to resume her shopping at Walmart and Fingerhut. What she lacked in quality trinkets she made up for in quantity! Her love for shopping was more often for others than herself. She always had a gift for a new baby, a new home, a birthday or Christmas. The gifts were always personal and perfect for the recipient. Aunt Nays’ favorite family events were welcoming new babies. Each new baby would receive between 2 and 12 handmade blankets, several outfits and always a pair of baby shoes!
Aunt Nay loved to decorate her home and 5th wheel trailers. When she picked a color for a room you knew what it was. From the drapes to the toilet seat cover, no surface was left untouched. Each room redecorated at least every few years. This love of color was also prevalent in her outfits. She matched from head to toe, if she had cherries on her shirt, she had cherries on her earrings, necklace, and shoes. It was rare to see her in an outfit twice. She was dressed up, done up and smelled of Elizabeth Taylor, White Diamonds every day without fail.
On paper, Aunt Nay was a homemaker but in reality she worked several jobs over the years, always willing to help her sisters in their businesses. In addition to working with Marjorie in her daycare, she worked alongside Carolyn in her flower shop, arranging flowers, another hobby she was gifted in and enjoyed immensely.
Aunt Nay and Uncle Therlo moved to Sunset Utah in 1963 where they resided for 60 years. This house was the family gathering house for decades. We had pool parties, annual Christmas parties, barbecues, baby showers and even a wedding or two at their house. There was always space for guests to stay when visiting from out of town.
Nay was lovingly cared for by her son Leon since the passing of her husband 7 years ago. Leon took great care of his mom until the end. Every grunt, “MOM 👊 (pfft💨)”, and complaint was said with love. It was only when he let her know he would be okay that she let go of her earthly life.
Nadine was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, Therlo, as well as her parents, sister and brother in-law Sharryl and Timothy Holt, sister Sharrie Clontz, Brothers Jesse (JC) Salisbury, Steven Salisbury and Brent Abbott. Nadine is survived by her son Leon, sisters Carolyn (Hayes) Stromness, Marjorie (Rick) Larsen, Debbie Anderson, brothers Darwyn Salisbury, Steve Abbott and Lynn Abbott, sister in-law Ellen Salisbury, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Aunt Nay insisted on a small graveside celebration of life instead of a big “to-do” funeral which is why this obituary is so long. She was an amazing woman who left an imprint on so many lives. In passing I hope she realizes how much she has meant to so many over the years. Aunt Nay lived a long, productive, meaningful, and impactful life and we are all so grateful for our time with her.
The family would like to thank Thatcher Brook Care Center and Cascade Springs Home Healthcare for providing amazing home hospice care over the last couple of months. Her nurse Maggie Hunt and aides Courtney Ford and Avery Hardy not only helped care for her but gave her companionship and love while in her home. The late-night calls from Avery on Nays’ final night provided the family so much support and we can’t express enough appreciation for her.
A viewing for Nay will be on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Lakeview Memorial Mortuary and Park, 1640 East Lakeview Drive, Bountiful. A graveside service where she will be laid to rest will follow at 11:00 am. Friends and family are welcome to bring a blanket or chair for comfort during the graveside service.
Service Information
Viewing August 16, 2023 at 10:00 am
Lakeview Memorial Mortuary





Graveside Service
August 16, 2023 at 11:00 am
Lakeview Memorial Park