Mary J. Cooper

Mary Julia Dungan Cooper was born May 30, 1921, to Joseph Richard and Mattie Wade Dungan. She passed from this life early Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015, a holiday she so loved, taking the hand of her Lord and entering into the life He prepared for her.

She was a child of faith, learning the Word from her grandfather Joseph Milton Gamble, and following his example of goodness and trust in God. She spent many Sundays at East Dallas Christian Church, sitting on the front row alone, absorbing the text of the day, and holding the truth she heard in her heart. By all accounts she was industrious and fair-minded, guided by an internal moral compass that was hers to the end of this life.

From an early age, she understood duty and sacrifice. During the Great Depression, Mary helped to make ends meet for her family, selling coat hangers and light bulbs in her neighborhood. Her dance career in ballet and Schubert Summer musicals in Dallas also helped to provide for her parents and siblings. As a professional ballroom dancer, she worked many nights to put food on the table. At some point, a teacher in Mary’s high school learned why Mary appeared so tired in class. As a result, Mary earned her respect and admiration, and she became Mary’s strongest ally at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, recommending Mary for a full scholarship to SMU.

Once a week, she traveled by bus to Corsicana to teach dance lessons, as well as running a dancing school in Dallas. With part of her earnings, she helped her older brother, JR, achieve his dream to continue his education earning a degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas A & M.

In 1943, during WWII, she met Capt. Carl Cooper. After seeing a picture of Mary while at a dinner in the home of a friend, he was heard to say, “This is the woman I will marry.” And indeed they were married soon after, and spent the next 58 years together. Their daughters Connie, Judy and Jenny found husbands, and had children of their own who all benefitted from Mary’s example of faithfulness.

In 1945, after the War, the Coopers began a career with the YMCA. This included visiting the Hungarian refugee camps in 1956, and sponsoring many families from the camps, starting new lives in a free country. Mary’s home became a place for many in need to find the help they sought. She had a servant’s heart.

As a young wife and mother, she began other civic-oriented activities by co-founding the Houston Junior Forum, and serving as the first president. As her children grew up and went away to school, she was encouraged by her husband to once again use her gifts and abilities. She became Executive Director of the Bluebonnet Bowl, followed by a 20-year career as Executive Director of The 100 Club of Houston and Harris County.

During her tenure, the 100 Club grew substantially, providing funding to the families of fallen Police Officers and Firefighters, “vests of life” for the HPD and other protective equipment including that for SWAT teams. She retired at the young age of 75, continuing as an honorary Lifetime Director of The 100 Club until her death. She returned to private life with love and dedication to Carl, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She has left us with a legacy of faith, love and sacrifice. The life that our “Gramma”, “Two-Mama”, and “Memo” lived before our entire family exemplified quiet faith in our beloved Shepherd, Jesus Christ. May we live as boldly as the sheep of His fold, loving our children, living our calling, and rejoicing always, no matter the challenge. To have been the family of Mary and Carl Cooper, we will forever be grateful.

The peace of Christ to you. We love you dearly. Rest.

Mary is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Connie and Duane Brandt Jr., Judy and Bill Moore, Jenny and Ken Goodrick; Grandsons and their wives, Jeff and Amy Moore, Matt Moore and Merry Campbell-Moore, Michael and Brandee Brandt, Ian and Amanda Goodrick; and grandson, Zach Goodrick; great-grandsons, Walker Moore, Cooper Moore, Campbell Moore, John Thomas Brandt, and Jaxon Brandt; and great-granddaughters Jaden Brandt, Adelaide Moore, and Betsy Moore. Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband, Carl Benjamin Cooper, and her beautiful granddaughter, Lauren Elizabeth Brandt.