Ollie Faye Whitener

Born in Levelland, TX, Ollie was the daughter of William L. Cooper and Ollie L. (Davenport) Cooper, both of whom were among the early settlers of Hockley County. She graduated from Lubbock High School in 1953 and went on to marry the love of her life, Billy J. Whitener, on November 6, 1953. Together, they shared 65 beautiful years of marriage before his passing in 2019.

Ollie’s passion for sewing began early, creating for friends and family before establishing her own business as a professional seamstress. She specialized in crafting draperies, window treatments, and upholstery, earning recognition for her talent. One of the proudest moments of her career came when she was commissioned by the Smithsonian Institute to create velvet drapes and reupholster an antique chair for one of their exhibits—a true testament to her skill and artistry.

Beyond her work, Ollie had a deep love for gardening. She spent countless hours landscaping the homes she and Bill made their own over the years, transforming each space with her green thumb and attention to detail.

Ollie is survived by her daughter, D'Wanna Whitener (Dennis Smith); sons, Jackie Whitener (Cindy) and Berkley Whitener (Cathy); and grandchildren Hunter Whitener-Smith (Minh), Avery Zuniga (Noah), Eric Whitener, Colton Whitener, Anna Arvai (Scott), and Austin Whitener (Persephone). She was also the proud great-grandmother of Ava, Beatrix, Olivia, and Jude. Ollie is further survived by her sister, Mary Brock, and her brother, Gordon Cooper. Her dear friend and constant companion, Cecil Clark, also remains by her side in spirit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, and her siblings: sister Norma Walker, and brothers Gernie, Garvin, Dan, and Kent Cooper.

A private graveside service will be held on April 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Rowlett, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the McKinney Community Garden (communitygardenkitchen.org) or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (dallasarboretum.org), causes that were close to Ollie’s heart.

Ollie’s love, warmth, and generosity will forever be cherished by all who knew her. Her memory lives on in the beauty she created, both in her work and in the hearts of her loved ones.