Judge Margaret Anne Cooper

Judge Margaret Anne Cooper described running for Judge as "like walking barefoot from here to El Paso", but she was up to the task. She defeated her opponents handily, defeating at least one of those foolhardy men several times over. Margaret took it as a challenge anytime she was told a specific job was a "man's work". Repeatedly showing them, it was not.

Margaret A. Cooper, age 82, passed away on April 25, 2026, with her dear niece by her side, in Austin, Texas after a brief illness. She was born on September 9, 1943, to William Earl and Louise LaVarne Cooper, in Oakland, California, while her father was stationed in the Navy during World War II. She was the oldest of three girls. The family returned to Texas after her father's naval service concluded.

Margaret attended the University of Texas and graduated in 1965. She worked as a Materials Manager at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, buying Jet engine parts during the Vietnam War, until returning to graduate school at the University of Texas in the fall of 1968. This was her "girls just want to have fun" period, when she notoriously was seen parasailing in Mexico. Realizing that no one would likely pay her to read books, she entered law school at the University of Houston and graduated with her law degree in 1977.

She began her legal career at the civil trial firm of Tinsman and Houser in San Antonio and subsequently moved back to Austin and served as Director of Hearings and Appeals at the Texas Education Agency prior to opening her private trial practice in Austin. She served as president of the Travis County Women Lawyers' Association in 1983. She was board certified in Administrative Law, and practiced in Austin, first with Lucius, Bunton, Peter Nolan and Connie Ode, before she and Connie opened the firm of Ode & Cooper. In 1992, she was elected Judge of the 353rd District Court of Travis County, Texas, where she served until her formal retirement in 2008, after which she continued to serve as a senior judge until 2014.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Austin, where she taught Sunday school for the Friendship Class from time to time, and considered it a great compliment that one of the members of that class made an effort to attend when she was teaching, because "you make me think".

Judge Cooper was recently predeceased by her sister Mary Beth Cooper, formerly of Denver and is survived by her sister Martha and her husband, Bill Dolman, of Austin, Texas, and her niece Rachel June Dolman, of Austin, Texas, and her nephew, Richard William Dolman, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Richard's children, Mason Lee and Madison Dolman, of Lawton, Oklahoma.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX. Her ashes will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, TX.

Margaret in her youth occasionally tormented her younger sisters, insisting that she be referred to as "O Royal Master," which doubtless presaged her choice of career and her regard for order in her court. Fellow judges report they would consult her at what they affectionately referred to as "The Margaret Cooper School of Law" to help unravel sticky legal questions. When precise drafting of rules or artful letters to Commissioners' Court were required, it was often Judge Cooper the other judges would turn to.

She treasured the company of long-time friends at their Friday morning breakfast gatherings. In her honor, this gang that has been meeting for thirty years, is called the "Margaret Cooper Breakfast Club". Her wisdom will continue to shape the colorful discussions of these women. She loved to laugh, and relished being surrounded by books, some of which she found time to read. She loved staying abreast of cultural trends and had hoped to stay alive long enough to see a Democrat back in the White House. She often felt the old Dr. John song "Right Place Wrong Time," might have applied to her, but all in all, she was in the right place at the right time, and was grateful for all the blessings she enjoyed, for the love of family and friends, with the hope that her memory will always bring a smile.

Empowering women has always been a signature of Margaret's core values. She can best be honored by contributions to the Margaret Cooper Scholarship Fund for aspiring young law students. This is a 501(c)(3) charitable fund of the Travis County Women Lawyers. Checks can be sent to:

TCWLA Scholarship fund

507 West 7th St Austin, TX 78701

The family wishes to thank Rachel Dolman, Margaret's niece, for carrying the load through Margaret's recent illness. Also, the staff at Silverleaf Eldercare, for their kind attention.