Mary Lenore Cooper

Mary Lenore Lenkersdorfer Cooper, beloved matriarch of our family, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at her home in San Antonio, Texas at age 97. Mary was born on March 9, 1918 in Dillon, Montana to Mary Eliza Dudley and John Lenkersdorfer, the eighth of their nine children.

Mary was predeceased by her husband of 60 years Colonel Talmage DeWitt Cooper, Jr. who passed away in 2000. Mary is survived by her three children, Talmadge, Mary Ann and Rebecca Jo; six grandchildren Natalie, Brian, Marianne, Jessica, Rebecca and Max; and six great-grandchildren Sydney, Weston, Eoin, Emmet, Kate and Wesley.

When she was 9 months old, Mary's family moved to Logan, Utah where she grew up. She attended Utah State University in Logan and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. While there she met her wonderful husband, Talmage, on a blind date, who also graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. In 1940, their true adventures started when Talmage received a commission into the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a fighter pilot. They married on November 7, 1941, exactly one month before Pearl Harbor. They would move all over the world during the next 30 years, living in California, Arizona, Alabama, New Mexico, Virginia, France, Greece, and Hawaii. In 1970, Talmage retired from the U.S. Air Force and they moved to Denver, Colorado. Mary taught Home Economics in Idaho, Virginia, Colorado and Hawaii. Mary and Talmage moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1985 and built a lovely home here. Mary's passion was her family, particularly her children and her grandchildren. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints her whole life.

Friends & Family, please join us for visitation at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, Texas 78218 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2015. We will honor and bid farewell to Mary at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, April 30, 2015 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8801 Midcrown Drive, Windcrest, Texas 78239. Burial will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.