Jean Cooper Riggs' Obituary
Jean Elizabeth Cooper Riggs, 86, of Land O Lakes, Florida, passed away on September 4, 2025.
She was born in the mining town of Nichols, Florida, to Randel Eugene Cooper and Grace Lillibridge Burrows Cooper. She grew up in both Tampa with her mother and Lithia with her father and stepmother, Edna Smith Cooper.
Jean graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1957, and went to work for Aetna Life Insurance the following year. She loved working at Aetna and stayed there for 45 years until she officially retired in 2003. She met her soon to be husband, Aubrey “Butch” Riggs, in October of 1971, while moonlighting as a bartender. He asked her out, but she was not interested. He persisted, however, and she agreed to go out with him only if she could bring a friend. After that first chaperoned date, she decided he was indeed quite a catch. They were married a mere 8 months later.
Family meant the world to Jean. She and Butch had two children. They lived in Tampa until moving to Land O Lakes in 1990. They celebrated their 40 th wedding anniversary just 2 months before he passed away in 2012.
Jean and Butch loved animals and had a myriad of dogs, cats, hamsters, turtles, and fish. They loved dining out and their favorite restaurant was Bern’s Steakhouse. They traveled all over and especially loved their trips to Washington DC, Las Vegas, and New York City. They enjoyed a few cruises, but their favorite activity by far was spending time with their family at home.
Jean was a fan of all things pretty. She loved buying clothes, shoes, and purses. She took great pride in her appearance and always had her hair styled, make-up applied, and jewelry on. In fact earlier this year, she slipped and fell while getting dressed. She was not injured, but the paramedics were called to help her up. Her first words to them as she lie on the floor were, “Please excuse my hair.”
Jean is survived by her daughter Kimberly Riggs, son Kevin Riggs, daughter-in-law Sarah Riggs, and grandsons Theodore and Patrick Riggs. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Jane Mayo of Lithia, and brother James Rentz of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Her celebration of life will be held on Monday, September 15 th , at Trinity Memorial Funeral Home in Trinity, Florida. Visitation will begin at 11:00, the service will begin at noon, and a reception will be held directly afterwards.
Jean had a deep love for animals. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in her memory to PetSmart Charities at https://www.petsmartcharities.org.
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