Martha Gripp Cooper
4 years ago
Martha was born Nov. 12, 1934, on a farm in Miami, Texas, to Bessie (Seitz) and Guy Walter Gripp. She was the middle child. In later years, the family moved to Panhandle. Martha graduated from Panhandle High School in 1952 and Martha attended West Texas State University for a short time before she went to work for Southwest Public Service in the Panhandle office. Martha met Jay Cooper and they were married on Dec. 20, 1963. Before beginning a family, they traveled around the south with their Square Dance Club participating in events.
Their first son, Guy Albert Cooper, was born December 19, 1965 and due to complications passed away on Jan. 15, 1966. Jay Wayne Cooper, their second son, was born Feb. 18, 1968 and due to complications passed away Feb. 19, 1968. On March 10, 1970, their third son, James Daniel Cooper was born and on March 30, 1972, their fourth son, Stanley Mark Cooper was born. Martha was a homemaker who loved her family and especially her boys. She was always there for her boys and her only goal was to help them be successful. Martha was involved in their education and was there for all their activities. She was also involved with PTA at Whittier Elementary and Travis Junior High and she volunteered at Palo Duro High School even after her boys had graduate. Martha was also a volunteer for the American Cancer Society where she transported patients to their treatments.
Martha loved bowling. In her 30 plus years of bowling, Martha bowled on numerous leagues and was the secretary of several leagues for many years. Not only did Martha bowl locally, but she bowled in numerous tournaments not only within Texas, but around the United States. She had a great time with all her bowling friends. Martha served on the AWBA Board of Directors for several years.
Martha is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dick Gripp, her husband Jay Cooper and her two oldest sons.
Martha is survived by her brother John Gripp and his wife Helenn of Creston, Colo., her sister Dorothy Schoenhals of Shattuck, Oklahoma, her sons James Cooper and his wife Tania of Amarillo, and Mark Cooper and his wife Lisa of The Colony, Texas; her grandchildren, Alysa and her husband Jeremiah Holly along with their son Matthew of Sapulpa, Okla. and Dylan Cooper of Midland, Texas. Martha has numerous nieces and nephews whom she thought the world of.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the First Baptist Church of Amarillo, 1208 S. Tyler, Amarillo, TX 79101.