Donald Ray Hooper

A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home. Visitation will be at 11:00am, with the service to follow at 12:00pm.

Donnie was born Sunday, May 4, 1947, in Orange, Texas, the only child of Marvin and Jean Hooper. He spent most of his childhood in Houston, Texas, and attended college in Alvin, Texas. After working for Mrs. Baird’s Bakery in Fort Worth, Donnie moved to Pearl in 1969. He worked with his aunt at Sanders Wholesale Florist for a few years before purchasing the company. He owned Sanders until he moved back to Alvin to help his parents with the family business. Donnie retired there and returned to Mississippi to be near family.

Donnie was known for his sense of humor and sarcastic wit, much to the dismay of his daughters at times. His favorite statement, “Why tell the truth when a lie sounds better” is a great example of his wit. Donnie enjoyed socializing with friends and family, wherever he was. At the first bars of “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights’” he was on the dance floor, charming all the ladies with his dance moves. Donnie loved to travel. He and his wife, Dianne, managed to see the majority of the United States in the time they had together.

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by the love of his life, Dianne Burt Hooper; two daughters, Melissa Hooper Paxton and Michelle Hooper Porter; step-daughters, Tracy Burt Prouty, Beth Burt Brown, and Rhonda Burt Ezell; seven grandchildren, and two great-grandsons. He will be missed greatly by his furbabies, Scooter, Teddy, and Izzy.

In lieu of flowers, please make all donations to CARA, 960 Flag Chapel Jackson, MS 39209.