Hatcher, June Cooper

Held Long Career With The Chattanooga News Free Press

  • Sunday, October 8, 2017
June Hatcher
June Hatcher

June Cooper Hatcher was born on January 11, 1932, to parents, Charles Adam and Angie Mahoney Cooper in Louisville, Ky.  She passed away in Chattanooga, on October 8, 2017

June was active in church throughout her life and was of the Presbyterian faith. She sung with and conducted church choirs in both Louisville and Chattanooga. She was a member of Red Bank Presbyterian Church.

Upon graduation from Louisville Girl’s High School, June entered the University of Louisville majoring in English and Voice. After college, she met and married Jack W. Hatcher, Sr., settling in Chattanooga. Dad worked for WDEF Radio and Mom was a traditional stay-at-home mother who raised three children.

In 1972 June entered the business world by joining the Chattanooga News Free Press as a writer, eventually rising to entertainment editor.  She worked on Roy McDonald’s staff for decades, during which she authored many articles, by-lines, and privately published works.  However, June’s joy in work was traveling to Press events and interviewing celebrities.  She loved covering Hollywood premiers and reviewing Broadway plays.  Among Mom’s most memorable assignments was being the first journalist to discover and publicize the band Alabama, Randy Owen making the point to acknowledge Mom at every Chattanooga concert.  Her first ever interview was with Red Skelton and she had several memorable interviews with Liberace. Mom took greatest pleasure in promoting and publicizing Chattanooga’s rising artists and our local theatre community.

After retiring from the newspaper in 1999, June transitioned from YMCA Board Member to Volunteer and Coordinator of the YMCA’s “Silver Sneakers” Program.  During retirement, she also studied for five years to earn the Education for Ministry certificate from The University of the South, and also became a certified “Master Gardener”.  June very much enjoyed her group of friends, particularly the fun trips with her pal of over 50 years, Sally Reeve.  She was also a reporting member of Chattanooga’s Friday Morning Study Club, where she delivered historical research addresses.  June served on a number of not-for-profit Boards but was particularly devoted to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and she deeply cared for her friends with MS.

June Hatcher is survived by her sons, Jack W. Hatcher, Jr. (Marti), and Brian Paul Hatcher (Bambi) and daughter Angie Hatcher Sledge (Jeff).  Her grandchildren are Michelle Sledge, Traci Lyons, Dustin Hatcher, Megan Hawkins, Rachael Gass, Bonnie Wood, Katherine Sledge, Katie Gass, Andrew Hatcher, plus three great grandchildren Gavin, Ava, and Gracie.  Her brother is Charles Adam Cooper II (Jeri); and six nieces and nephews and their children.

The family of June Cooper Hatcher would like to express sincere appreciation to all who have loved and visited Mom and have expressed their friendship and remembrances, including her neighbors at The Continental, and Primary caregivers Ella Barron and Gloria Greene.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 13, at noon at Chattanooga Funeral Home’s North Chapel on Highway 153 with June’s son-in-law, Dr. Jeff Sledge officiating. 

Visitation will be 1½ hours prior to the service from 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.  A celebration and reception for our friends and family will be held immediately following the service at the home of Jack and Marti Hatcher on Lookout Mountain.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN. 

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.

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