Alta Arlene Cousins

Cooper – Alta Arlene Cousins, 80, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2011 at Atlantic Rehab & Nursing Center in Calais. Alta was born in Cooper on October 8, 1931, daughter of the late William and Josephine (Creamer) Leighton. After graduating from Princeton High School, Class of 1950, she worked at Ware Knitters and as a waitress until she married Royce Cousins in Cooper on January 30, 1954. Alta, along with her husband, owned and operated their family farm and Cousins Greenhouse. She was a member of Meddybemps Christian Assoc., the Cooper Grange, Washington County Extension, and served on the Cooper Planning Board as well as the Cooper School Board. Alta enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing, painting, and especially quilting. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband Royce; three sisters, Alice Moores, Mildred Corbett, and Evelyn Allen; and a brother Ira Leighton. Surviving are her two sons, Michael Cousins and his wife Teresa of Cooper, and Robert Cousins of Cooper; one granddaughter, Laura Cousins of Calais; brother-in-law Charles Cousins of Princeton; two sisters-in-law Thursa Sawyer of Charlotte and Vernice Young of Bar Harbor; a special niece Grace Curtis of Pembroke; and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011 at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais. A celebration of her life will be held 10 a.m. Monday in the funeral home. Burial will be after at West Ridge Cemetery in Cooper.