Frances "T9E" Cooper

VISITATION FOR MRS. COOPER HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

Frances Collins Cooper (known by all as “T9E”) was called home to the Lord as she 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, Arizona. 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. The
party even gained national attention when 60 Minutes own Harry Reasoner and his CBS news
crew attended the party as part of segment they were doing on Texas -OU weekend. 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. She also served for several summers on the Senior Staff of Camp
Monterey in Monterey, TN, a place she loved. One year, she was asked to step in at the last
minute as one of the head cooks, delighting girls from all over the country with her Chili Con
Queso and many other meals prepared with care and enthusiasm. A true cheerleader, she was
always the most enthusiastic supporter of her children’s many endeavors, never missing a golf

tournament, basketball game, tennis match or never missing an opportunity to have a party to
celebrate something with her children, relatives or friends.
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, Evvie 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 Collins, and her brothers-in-law, Rick
Cooper and Phil Nazro, and her mother and father in law, Chloe and Marion Cooper.
The family would like to thank all of the staff of Indian Oaks Living Center for their special care
of T9E as well as all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Baylor Scott and White-Temple, and
Cornerstone Rehabilitation in Temple for their care during T9E's stays at each
of them.
A Memorial Service for the family will be held at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Salado,
Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 881 North
Main Street, PO Box 797, Salado, TX, 76571-0797-In Memoriam of Frances (T9E) Cooper.

A social gathering of family and friends will be at Broecker Funeral Home of Salado on
Saturday, September 12, from 4:00 – 6:00pm.

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