Frances Collins Cooper

February 19, 1940

September 6, 2020

Frances Collins Cooper (known by all as “T9E”) died peacefully on September 6, 2020, with her husband, Mike, by her side. She was 80 years old. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. T9E was a true Texas lady who loved nothing more than to be surrounded by the people she loved and who loved her right back. She never met a stranger and was one of the world’s great conversationalists. She will be missed.

Frances was born on February 19, 1940, in Dallas, Texas to Burt Johnson Collins and Lucy Gowdey Collins. Her older sister, Lucy Ann, called Frances her “tee-niney” baby sister and in doing so gave her the one-of-a-kind nickname that she was known by her whole life – T9E. T9E’s family lived in Hearne for several years before moving to Waco in 1945 where T9E grew up. For the rest of her life, T9E could find in everyone she met a connection to Waco. T9E graduated from Waco High School in 1958 and went on to the University of Texas, Plan II on a Latin scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. While on the 40 Acres, she was a Longhorn cheerleader and member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. It was also at UT that T9E met the love of her of her life, Michael Ross Cooper from Winslow, Mike and T9E married on June 16, 1962. While Mike attended UT Law School, T9E taught Latin at Allan Junior High School in Austin.

After Mike graduated, they moved to Dallas where they lived and raised their family. T9E had three children, Lucy Katheryn, Michael Collins, and Stephen Burt. Their home on Southwestern Boulevard was the site of countless family celebrations, holidays and especially their legendary Texas-OU parties before the annual football game. The Texas-OU party grew along with their family until there were first, second, and third generations of T9E’s extended family and their friends attending the annual festivities before heading to the Cotton Bowl for the game. T9E was the consummate hostess, making everyone welcome in her home. She loved and cared for her aunts, uncles and cousins, and her children’s friends were an extension of her own family-she loved them and they all loved her right back. T9E and Mike created a home full of love and laughter and those of us lucky enough to grow up with them treasure the memories of those special times.

T9E was a devoted Episcopalian, raised at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waco, and serving on the altar guild at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas. For several years, T9E taught Latin at Highland Park High School and pre-school at Highland Park Presbyterian Day School. A true cheerleader, she was always the most enthusiastic supporter of her children’s many endeavors, never missing a golf tournament, basketball game, or tennis match.
In 1998, T9E and Mike settled into life on the golf course in Salado, Texas, and T9E quickly became as beloved in Salado as she was in Dallas. She served on the altar guild at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church was also a member of the Daughters of the King. She cherished visits from her seven grandchildren who affectionately called her “Niney.”

T9E is survived by her husband Mike of Salado; her children and their spouses, Lucy and Ellis Oglesby of Austin; Michael and Marjann Cooper of Austin; and Stephen and Taryn Cooper of Dallas; her grandchildren, Luke and Rick Oglesby, Caroline and Catherine Cooper, and Preston, Caroline, and Matthew Cooper; her sister, Lucy Ann Collins Nazro of Austin; nieces and nephews and their spouses Francie and Trent Thurman, Ewie Nazro, Alice and Mike Nezzer, and Phillips Nazro and Neal Thomas; and many cherished cousins from the large and tight-knit Gowdey family she loved so much.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lucy and Burt Collin her father and mother in laws ;Marion Ross Cooper and Chloe Belle Cooper of Winslow ,Arizona and her brothers-in-law, Rick Cooper of Tucson, Arizona and Phil Nazro of Austin, Texas.

There will be a wake at Broecker Funeral Home 949 West Village Road, Salado, Texas from 4 to 6 pm on Saturday, September 12, 2020.