Grace Wynne Cooper died peacefully at her home surrounded by family on February 16, 2020, at the age of 93. She was born in Pittsburg, Texas, on June 11, 1926, to Chalmas E Wynne and Ruby Grace Wynne. Graduating from Pittsburg High School at the age of 16, she completed her studies at Federal Institute Business School in Tyler, Texas, where she met and married her husband, Thomas Lawrence Cooper, on January 27, 1945. The family moved to Paris in 1957, and Grace worked as a church secretary at First Baptist Church before joining the office staff at Texas Power & Light Company where she remained until her retirement in 1986. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Paris.
For many years after her retirement, Grace enjoyed getting up at daybreak to walk several miles on the Dragon Park track and later the Trail de Paris to watch the sun rise, which kept her strong, fit and independent into her 90’s. She always kept her hands busy, whether working on jigsaw puzzles, making her family’s favorites of peanut butter pie and cheesecake, or crocheting afghans for her family and friends. She also volunteered in the Auxiliary of McCuistion Hospital of Paris for many years.
She is survived by her daughters, Joyce Schaeffer and husband Ed, Jan Weiberg and husband Doug; her grandsons, Brett Johnson and wife Kimberly, Chad Johnson and wife Alexis, and Keith Compton and wife Angela; great grandchildren Thomas, Charlie, Preston, Amelia Grace, and Isabella Johnson, Michael and Drew Johnson, Callie White and Austin Sugg and wife Taylor; great-great grandchildren, Alivia White, Lane Sugg, and Coleman Sugg; a sister, Pat Carpenter of Tyler, a special nephew, Russ Cooper and wife Nancy of Tyler, and many more special nieces, nephews and blended-family grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren who were added blessings to her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tom, sisters Billie Wynne Holverson and Jean Wynne, brothers Ed (Sonny) Wynne and Richard Perry Wynne.
The family will receive friends at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 19, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will held in the chapel at Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery, 12058 State Highway 64 in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, February 20, at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Gideons International, the Salvation Army or 1st Baptist Church of Paris, TX.
Online condolences may be sent to the Cooper family at www.fry-gibbs.com
