Mary Ellen Hatton Cooper, 80, of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, passed away on February 15, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on September 2, 1937, in Dehue, West Virginia, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and coal country. A true coal miner's daughter, she grew up in that mining town through the mid-fifties where many families were immigrants and settled there amongst the row houses and front porches to make a better life for their families, forming a strong bond that still exists today. Mary Ellen learned early on the true meaning of faith, family and community when her father was severely injured in a mining accident, losing a leg and unable to work while spending a year and a half in recovery. Since there were no miner benefits, the mining company could only offer her oldest brother, Earl, his father's job, forcing him to quit high school and provide for their large family. Her small church also provided a lot of support during those difficult times. Dehue Community Church became the center of their lives with its old-time gospel hymns, Saturday night socials and youth events in which she participated.

Mary Ellen graduated from Logan High School in 1955, where she was editor of the school's yearbook and discovered her knack for creativity and design that stayed with her all her life. The first in her family to attend college, she had a teaching scholarship to West Virginia University in Morgantown, where she met her husband, Jerry Spencer Cooper.

Jerry was an All-State tackle who played for the Mountaineers. They married in 1956, and after a brief illness that prevented him from completing his college football career, he re-enlisted in the Air Force to provide for his young bride and the three children that came thereafter. Mary Ellen was the perfect military wife. She supported her husband through several transfers, always making lifelong friends at each base where they were stationed. Her home was the center of social gatherings, especially during her beloved holidays, with card games and basement sock hops. An excellent cook, she welcomed family and friends into her home with her southern hospitality. This sometimes included military airmen far away from their families where a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal was shared, teaching her children the importance of taking care of others. After their last transfer to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, Jerry retired in 1975, making Louisiana their permanent home. Sadly, he passed away soon thereafter following complications from a surgery, leaving her a single mother with two teenagers and a young son. Those were very sad and difficult times that required her to draw upon the strength she had learned about the importance of family and friends from that mining town in West Virginia.

The next few years were very tough, but she did the best she could in playing a dual role in raising her children. To deal with her loss, she became a Bridge Life Master and learned to play golf at Barksdale Air Force Base. There she met the second love of her life, Norman Kjos, who became a lifelong companion and unbelievable support, especially during her long battle with cancer. Affectionately known as Meme by her family, she moved to Fair Oaks Ranch near San Antonio in 1993 to support her daughter and her family and a grandson with Down Syndrome. There she built another great life, making more lifelong friends and passing on the southern hospitality that had become her trademark. Golf and bridge were her passions. She won several amateur golf tournaments and represented Fair Oaks Ranch Country Club twice at Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina.

Mary Ellen lived life to the fullest and was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren and great children whom she loved and supported unconditionally. During her last days, her relationship with Christ became more important as she drew upon the faith that had been nurtured many years ago at that small community church along with her favorite, personal anthem, "Almost Heaven West Virginia" by John Denver.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Spencer Cooper, parents, George Washington and Mary Lena Runyon Hatton, granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Cooper, and all of her nine brothers and sisters (Margaret, Robert Ambrose, Earl, Helen Hatton Pence, George Jr., Dorothy Hatton Adams, William, Fred and Greg). She is survived by her lifelong golf partner and love, Norman Kjos of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, daughter, Pamela Cooper Crowley of San Antonio, Texas, son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Sandy Brandt Cooper of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Sandra Erickson Cooper of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, seven grandchildren (Kristen Cooper Dain, Kara Crowley Curlin, Katie Cooper Farley, Jared Crowley, Samuel Cooper, Seth Cooper and Sophie Cooper), seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews who loved her very much.

The family wishes to thank family and friends for their thoughts and prayers. Special thanks to the Fair Oaks Ranch golf community who have shown so much support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to SAFIRE, a local charity that supports Special Needs adults like her grandson Jared, who with their support became an International Special Olympian in Greece in 2011.

An event was named for Mary Ellen at the San Antonio 4th of July Regional in 2019