Carroll Frances Cooper

Carroll Cooper will be remembered by all who knew her as one of the most kind and generous human beings ever. Her contagious smile and her sense of humor were among the many traits that made her so well liked by her friends and family. She emitted a joy that could hardly be contained while spending time with friends, grandkids, dogs and family.

Carroll was part of the original Austin “hippie” culture after moving there as a young twenty something with her son Jon in tow. She worked at the Texas State Capitol for a number of years before moving to Arkansas to be around her parents when they retired to Mountain Home. She was in Austin at a time when one would pass fields while driving to Barton Springs, nothing like the Austin of today. She would go see Willie Nelson play at the Armadillo which influenced her music taste for the rest of her life. She would bowl in a league each week at the corner of Lamar and Barton Springs Road… her high score was 290. To say the least she was a very good bowler. When she returned to Austin around 25 years ago she helped out with lots of events in a variety of ways including timing, registration and even sitting on the back of a motorcycle as a USA Triathlon official.

She was never known as an “athlete” but she completed her first triathlon when she was nearly 60 years old. She also completed her first trail run/hike just a few years ago as well. Her enthusiasm to try things was amazing and a privilege to witness. Another passion of hers was adopting elderly and/or special needs dogs. She recently lost her best friend Willie (adopted elderly Chihuahua) and was rightfully in tremendous grief. She took a deep breath, and months later dove right back in with another elderly dog to try to help make his life more fulfilled.

Our last weekend together was full of fun, hard work, spending time with kids and friends and was about as much as you could ask for. She was happy.

Carroll Cooper was preceded in death by many loved family members including her parents Mirrel and Frances Kephart, her grandparents Mirrel and Agnes Kephart, and her beloved friend Willie her loyal friend and companion. She is survived by her son Jon, her grandchildren Cruz and Wynne, her brother Mirrel Kephart III, his children Laura, Michael, Brian and Kevin and so many friends that love her deeply.