Ethel I Cooper

Funeral Services for Ethel Imojean Cooper, 83, of Sperry, were held Tuesday, October 3, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Sperry, Oklahoma. The Reverend Andy Anquoe officiated and burial was in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry, Oklahoma. Casket Bearers were Todd Wyrick, Jim Wyrick, Travis Wyrick, Josh Freebern, Brandon Freebern, Kelly Brown, Jody Brown and George Brown. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Ethel was born June 25, 1926 in Sperry, Oklahoma to Charley and Radie (Button) Cooper. She passed away October 31, 2009 in Owasso, Oklahoma.

Her father and mother came to Indian Territory with their parents while in their teens. The two married at Claremore, I.T. in 1907 and raised their family in Hominy, Tiawah, Inola and Sperry. Her father moved his family to Sperry in 1919, and later took a job with the Texas Oil Company here. Ethel was born east of Sperry near the Greenwood Chapel School, the youngest of ten children.

Ethel was enrolled in Washington Elementary School in September 1932. She attended Sperry Schools for twelve years and graduated in 1945. In the fall of that year, she began her studies at Oklahoma Baptist University at Shawnee. In 1949 she received her B.A. degree in biology, science and chemistry along with a lifetime teaching certificate.That fall she was approached by Sperry Superintendent of Schools, K.O. Cochran about teaching science. She taught at Sperry for three years before resigning after the '51-'52 school year. In the fall of 1952 she accepted a secretarial position with Tulsa Public Schools, and worked at two schools.

In January 1953, Ethel entered the WAF (Women's Air Force) and reported for basic training at Lackland AFB, near San Antonio. She studied teletype at Biloxi, Mississippi, after which she was assigned to permanent duty at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington. After 2 � years of service.

She returned to Oklahoma, and immediately applied for a teaching job at Sperry. Superintendent Orville Prior hired her to teach Geography while she waited for an opening in her science specialties. Ethel taught Science, Biology and Chemistry at Sperry High School until 1982. She was also a sponsor for the High School Cheerleaders.

Ethel has lived in a home that she designed and had built in 1961, near the corner of First and Birch Streets in Sperry. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church, active in Falls Creek Summer Camp, WMU, Ladies Bible Study and teaching Sunday School. She enjoyed crocheting and watching the Dallas Cowboys.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews: Elmer Cooper, Don Cadenhead, Belinda McNeil, Jane Reiswig, Eldon Cooper, Karen Nelson, Beverly Brown, Jody Cooper, Pam Freebern, George Cooper, Mike Cooper, Gina Redding and Geri Kirklin; Numerous Great and Great Great Nieces and Nephews; 3 Sisters-in-law, Jean Cooper, Dorothy Russell and Evelyn Cooper. Along with a host of other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charley Cleveland and Radie Pearl (Button) Cooper; Sisters and Brothers, Fleta Masters, Charley Cooper, Cordie Cadenhead, Oleta Cooper, Odell Cooper, Garland Cooper and Clifford Cooper; Niece, Charlene Wyrick.