Leigh Cooper Wallace

BOONE, N.C. — Leigh Cooper Wallace, 43, of Todd, N.C., passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, Dec. 17, 2012, at Johnson City Medical Center, Tenn.

Leigh was born Aug. 12, 1969, in the Panama Canal Zone, to Claude and Louise Cooper, formerly of Sumter. She grew up in a military family and lived in many places in her youth: Panama Canal Zone; Rock Hill; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Altoona, Pa.; Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; and Fort Leavenworth, Kan. While living in these different places, Leigh learned the value of lasting friendships and cultural diversity.

She graduated in 1987 from Leavenworth High School. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 1992 with a degree in exercise science. She was a standout distance runner for ASU, winning the Southern Conference outdoor championships in track in 1992 in the 3000, 5000, and 10,000 meter events. Leigh also coached track and cross country at Watauga High School for more than 10 years, and her teams won numerous conference, regional, and state championships. She taught healthful living and physical education at Watauga High School from 1998 until the present. She helped establish women’s lacrosse as a varsity sport at Watauga High School and was the first head coach in this sport. She was inducted into the Watauga Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

In addition to her parents, Leigh is survived by her loving husband, Christopher Harold Wallace; and her two cherished children, son, Jacob Christopher Wallace, and daughter, Haleigh Lynn Wallace, all of the home. She is also survived by her devoted sisters, Julie Cooper Hodge and Holley Cooper Quick (David), both of Todd; and her special brother, Graig Wilson Cooper of San Francisco, Calif. She leaves behind five nieces and nephews who loved Aunt Leigh: Riley and Regan Hodge, Cade and Coen Quick, and Findley Cooper. Also surviving are her great-aunt, Connie Martin of Fayetteville, N.C.; her great- aunt and uncle, Dixie and John Martin of Charlotte; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as her husband Chris’ family: Candy and Ray Wallace, and Rodney and Gavin Wallace.

Favorite aunts and uncles formerly or currently from the Sumter area include: Gail Harvin of Sumter; Nancy and Larry Nohrenberg of Fort Worth, Texas; Pam Dean of Garwood, Texas; and Mike and Susan Cooper of Jacksonville, Fla.

She leaves a very special family to cherish her memory, her dedication, and her inspiration: the students, faculty and staff at Watauga High School.

Teaching and coaching gave her the opportunity to impart to her students, by her own example, the power of making good decisions, working hard to achieve goals and striving to live each day to its fullest. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Watauga High School.

Friends may call at the funeral home any time after 3 p.m. today to show their respect.

A private interment for the family will be conducted at Mount Lawn Cemetery prior to the memorial service, which will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Watauga High School.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Leigh Cooper Wallace Memorial Fund, c/o State Employees Credit Union, in the name of Chris Wallace, 410 New Market Blvd., Boone, NC 28607 or to any North Carolina State Employee Credit Union office.

Online condolences may be sent to the Wallace family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service of Boone is in charge of the arrangements.