Ruth Ann "Mattie Ruth" Cooper

Ruth Ann Cooper, 71, of Orange, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving husband and family on September 12, 2014.

Funeral services will be 2:00p.m., Monday, September 15, 2014 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend David Millner of Calvary Baptist Church in Orange. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn in West Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, September 14, 2014 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Center, Texas, on March 11, 1943, she was the daughter of Hardy Stanley and Eppie (Graves) Stanley. Ruth was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She cherished all of her little “chickadees”. She enjoyed cooking for her family during the holidays and was famous for her chocolate pie.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Clara Risinger; her brother, Robert Lee Stanley and her nephew, Ricky Risinger.

She is survived by her husband of fifty-five years, Earl Cooper of Orange; her daughters, Deborah Cooper McHugh and husband, Timmy of Highlands, Becky Cooper Byley and husband, Roy of Woodville, and Pam Cooper Toney and husband, Rory of Orange; grandchildren, Mac McHugh and wife, Kadi, Josh Franz and wife, Ashley, Jenny McHugh Clement and husband, Zach, Wayne Byley, Hayley Toney and Brooke Byley; great-grandchildren, Graci McHugh, Bryce Franz, Emma McHugh, Ashlynn Franz and Charlie Claire Clement.

Serving as pallbearers will be Rory Toney, Roy Byley, Timmy McHugh, Prentice Cooper, Zach Clement, Harry Jones and Jimmy McHugh. Honorary pallbearers are Wayne Byley, Josh Franz and Mac McHugh.