Sharianne "Shari" Cooper

Shari Cooper, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2023 at the age of 78 surrounded by her immediate family following complications resulting from recurrent esophageal cancer. Shari was born on September 9, 1944 in Ionia, Michigan, a picturesque small town filled with warm, friendly people and heartland values that shaped Shari’s character and how she lived out her life.

A memorial service celebrating Shari’s life will be held Friday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church, 10100 Anderson Mill Road, and streamed live virtually (details to be provided via updates), with Pastor Tom Deviney officiating and a reception at the church immediately following. Shari is preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Kenneth Geisel, older brother, Larry, and long-time friend (and later boyfriend), Bruce Hineman. Shari is survived by daughter Teresa Cooper Walden and her partner, Mark, grandsons, Ryan and Michael, younger brother, George and his wife Sue, sister-in-law, Rhoda, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished friends across the country, including her Ionia High School family and the Cooper family. She is also survived by her special adopted family, Jennifer (Hineman) and Jeff Brannon and their daughters, Avery and Addie.

Shari’s early life in Ionia centered around family, faith and friends, forming life-long bonds with numerous people from her formative years. A self-described tomboy, at a young age Shari frequently played backyard pick-up football and other sports with her older brother and his friends, in many cases helping beat the opposing team to Larry’s delight. She also stayed busy with dance lessons, piano, riding her bike all over town and attending numerous church activities and camps during the summers. Shari spoke fondly of becoming a big sister to little George and spending her teenage years working as a carhop at the A&W Root Beer stand (with only a few floats spilled on customers), playing clarinet and basketball (despite her small stature), and singing and dancing in musical theater. After graduating 4th in her class from Ionia High School in 1962, Shari attended Michigan State University and then the University of Michigan, following her marriage to her high-school sweetheart, Dennis Cooper, and the birth of her only child, Teresa.

In 1966, the young family moved to Austin where Shari’s love for sports transferred to cheering on the Texas Longhorns in football, basketball and baseball, and playing softball in a women’s league. You always knew what Shari was doing on Saturdays in the Fall – hanging out with friends or family watching and rooting for her favorite team. Shari treasured traveling to the 2005 Rose Bowl in Pasadena with her daughter, grandsons and other family and friends, attending the Tournament of Roses Parade and the game where her beloved ‘Horns beat the Michigan Wolverines. That experience was only barely topped in her mind when the ‘Horns won the National Championship the following year!

Shari enjoyed a long, successful career at Teacher Retirement System of Texas, retiring in 2002 after 35 years of service. She started as a secretary in the Member Services department. But Shari’s intellect, winning personality and hard work ethic caught the eye of executives and she was soon promoted to Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director and worked closely with all aspects of the agency’s operations and its board of trustees. In 1981 she was tapped to set up and manage the agency’s first official Personnel department. While serving as Personnel Director and overseeing a growing team of HR professionals, Shari achieved her life-long goal of completing her college degree, earning a Bachelors in Public Administration from St. Edward’s University.

But people who know Shari would readily say that her most selfless and rewarding vocation was being a loving, devoted mother to Teresa. Shari spent countless hours chauffeuring Teresa to her many activities, sewing dozens of dance costumes and even typing AP English essays and law school papers. As much or even more than she loved her daughter, Shari adored her grandsons, Michael and Ryan. Knowing they would grow up quickly, Shari dove into being a “hands-on” Nana to the boys, playing in the backyard, riding rollercoasters and sliding down waterpark features at theme parks, helping with homework, attending every activity and event they participated in, and also teaching them the secrets of Super Mario’s Castle. She was also blessed to be considered a special part of the Brannon family, including serving as “She-She” to Avery and Addie. She loved hosting them in her home and traveling to Dallas as often as possible, while following their development closely in between visits through pictures and frequent phone calls.

Shari embraced retirement, spending many years traveling in the US and abroad with her family, and TRS and Bethany friends. She enjoyed multiple trips to the Caribbean, Eastern and Central Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Nova Scotia, as well as numerous excursions to Mexico with the Cooper Family. When asked what her favorite country was, she would quickly answer “Italy.” Retirement also afforded her the opportunity to spend time with old friends and make new ones through the Searchers Sunday School class at Bethany. She also enjoyed reconnecting more closely with her Ionia HS class, enthusiastically planning and attending her 50th, 55th and 60th reunions, and several other “all school” reunions. The class of ‘62 was a special group with strong bonds and a love of fun, friendship and laughter.

Besides her naturally red (and later brilliant white) hair and fun-loving personality, Shari will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, a true friend, fiercely independent, feisty, trustworthy, kind, giving, a special person, a kid at heart, always ready with a smile to have fun and laugh, and someone who brightened your day just by being in her presence. She will be missed and loved forever.

Shari loved children and being of service to others, sponsoring and corresponding regularly with a young African boy into his early adulthood through World Vision. For those wishing to donate on her behalf, contributions may be made to World Vision at www.worldvision.org, Bethany United Methodist Church (Benevolence or Foundation Funds) at www.bethany-umc.org, or a charity of your choice.