Mary Cooper

Mary Alice Cooper

Our beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister and friend, Mary Alice Cooper, went into the arms of her Savior, July 28, 2020 in Roswell, N.M. Mary was born July 19, 1932 in Shepard, Montana.

Mary grew up a farm girl with a strong work ethic. Early on, she was known to be exceptionally kind, compassionate and loving. She never met a stranger and had a genuine love for people. She attended St. Olaf College, where she studied music and sang in the University choir. She enjoyed singing hymns even up to her last day on earth. Her family would often hear her singing and praying quietly through the day. She had an infectious sense of humor and was a constant joy, support and love to her family. Nothing kept her away, sometimes at great cost, to serving and loving her family. She became, at the joy of her girls, everyone’s mother.

She was an artist and was part of the Salt Lake City Garden Club for many years. She loved God’s chosen people and visited Israel many times with her daughters. Mary also had a few close friends in Israel. She loved the Bible and was an avid student of the Scripture. She passed this love to her girls and grandchildren. Mary loved Jesus with all her heart and raised her children to do the same. She wanted everyone she met to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She attended St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Ruidoso, N.M. as well as Christ’s Church in Roswell, N.M.

She married Asa Thomas Jones of Denver, Colorado in 1955. They met in Billings, Montana where she worked for an Oil and Gas firm. He preceded her in death. She married John A. Cooper on September 3, 1983 and they made their home on the Cooper Ranch in Arabella, N.M. John and Mary opened their home to all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is reunited in heaven with her father and mother, Fred and Mary Hofferber, her sisters Lily, Arlene, Ruth and a brother Fred. Also, a granddaughter and a great granddaughter. She is survived by her husband John Cooper of Arabella, N.M., one brother, Eddie Hofferber of Boise, Idaho, her daughters, Mary Leslie Page and Rebecca (Gerry) Chavez. Three grandsons, Nathan (Tillie) Page and their daughter, Stella, Benjamin (Nicole) Chavez and their son, Beckham, and Nicholas Chavez. She also had six stepchildren; John Wade (Charlanne) Cooper, Joe A. (Peggy) Cooper, Jud A. (Barbara) Cooper, Carol (Joe Louis) Gutierrez, Ginger (Billy Bob) Shafer and Jim M. (Mary Jane) Cooper. 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She also had many nieces and nephews that will lovingly miss her.

Visitation for Mary, which will be open for all, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at Ballard Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Friday, July 31, 2020, at Christ’s Church with burial to follow at South Park Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the service is limited to family and relatives.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Deborah the Brave Ministries, (for Israeli’s in need) PO Box 635, Roswell, N.M. 88202

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16