Raymond Lee Cooper, age 89, of San Angelo died Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
Raymond was born January 26, 1928, second of three sons born to Clara Green Cooper and Alfred Cooper of Sonora, Texas.
He was raised Baptist. He graduated from Sonora High School and attended Hardin-Simmons, where he played baseball.
He served in the Marines at Santa Anna, Ca. during the end of WWII and again during the Korean War.
He was also in the Reserves.
Raymond married Patsy Stout of Seymour in 1951.
After discharge, he opened a cafe in Sonora and drove a delivery truck for Mrs. Baird’s San Angelo Bakery.
Patsy and Raymond had two daughters, Phyllis Jo and Alice Ruth.
They later divorced. Patsy died in 2011.
Raymond married Sara Baker of San Angelo. They had three children, Martha Ann, Steven Baker and Sally Jane.
They later divorced. Sara died in 1982.
Raymond discovered he was good at selling furniture. He worked in Abilene, Amarillo, and San Angelo. Raymond married Faye Ueckert in 1974.
They established Cooper Interiors. This began a trend to renovate downtown San Angelo.
Mr. Cooper could tell the history of many downtown buildings.
Faye had two sons, John Mark and David. Faye passed away in 2013.
Mr. Cooper had over 50 years sobriety in AA.
He advocated and raised funds for facilities for those battling addiction.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Clara and Alfred Cooper, his older brother Roy Cooper, daughter Phyllis Jo, son Steve, and stepsons John Mark and David Simpler.
Survivors include Alice (Laron) Peters of Gothenburg, NE, granddaughter Lizette (Bob) Buckley, Edith and Gwyneth, grandson, Levi Peters; daughter-in-law Julie Cooper of Lewisville, granddaughters Stephanie, Rebecca, and Erika; daughters Martha Ann Specht of Schertz, grandsons Reese (Megan) and Luke (Katie) Specht and Olivia, and Sally Cooper of San Angelo; three step grandchildren, Amanda, Bryon, and Catherine Simpler; his younger brother Phillip of Sonora.
Family requests that memorials be given to AA or the Salvation Army.
A visitation was held Monday, January 17, 2018, at Harper Funeral Home.
A funeral service was held Tuesday, January 16th at Harper Funeral Home.
Interment was in the Fairmont Cemetery.
Family and friends can sign the online register book at www.harper-funeralhome.com
