Anne Cooper, 76, of San Marcos, passed away suddenly Friday, December 16, 2011.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bob Cooper; her daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Roland Sauermann, Robin and Clay Wilson, Holly and Scott Burner, and Damie Cooper and Dennis Bell; and grandchildren Robert Sauermann, Cooper, Georgia and Aden Burner, and Laura and Kimberly Wilson.
Anne was born to Chris and Esther Becker on February 28, 1935 in Marshalltown, Iowa. In the 1940s, the Becker family moved to Des Moines, Iowa where Anne graduated from Roosevelt High School. In 1957, she graduated from Iowa State University, where she was active in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. The friendships of her youth remained strong throughout her life.
At Iowa State, Anne met the love of her life, Bob Cooper, and the two were married December 14, 1957 in Marshalltown, Iowa. The newlyweds spent their first married years in California where Bob was stationed in the Navy. The young couple moved to Marshalltown in 1959, where their eldest daughter was born in 1960. When an opportunity arose to buy a feedlot in Texas, the young family seized the moment and moved to San Marcos, Texas. There they raised a family and built a life together.
Anne devoted her life to the care and energetic support of her family and community. She helped her four girls grow to become strong and principled women. She reached beyond family to enrich the lives of others in the spirit of public service. She was a PTA leader at James Bowie Elementary, where she helped organize the annual Halloween carnival and led Brownie and Girl Scout troops. She helped to found the Southside Community Center and to bring Head Start to San Marcos. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school and served for many years as an Elder. Her patriotism found expression in a drive to start San Marcos’s annual 4th of July celebration and fireworks display.
Her passion for public service led from active involvement in Hays County’s Republican Party to elected office as District 47’s State Representative to the Texas Legislature from 1985-89. She believed that a child’s knowledge of geography broadened the horizons of possibility, and so during her tenure in office, she helped organize San Marcos’s Geo Bowl through the Geography Department of Texas State University. After leaving office, Anne continued public service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority.
Book club, bridge, golf, friends and family kept her active in retirement. Anne built her life on the rock of faith and family. Anne and Bob had a mutual devotion to each other that saw them through good times and bad. She touched the lives of so many people in a positive way. She will be missed by all.
The family is planning a memorial service in February at the First Presbyterian Church to honor Anne’s life. In lieu of the usual remembrances, contributions may be made in Anne Cooper’s honor to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.penningtonfuneralhome.com.
