Samuel Allen Cooper

Samuel Allen Cooper passed away in Dallas Texas on February 20, 2021, at the age of 81. A graveside service was held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2021, at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro with Gary Hall officiating.

Sam was born on February 16, 1940, in Hillsboro, Texas to Elizabeth Jones and James Allen Cooper of Hillsboro. As babies, Sam and his twin brother, Jim, participated in a baby contest and posed for an advertisement sponsoring Carnation Milk products. Their pictures were in several newspapers across the country as the cutest twin babies. As a young boy, Sam and his twin brother, Jim, enjoyed playing baseball on the Westerners team and Sam received an award for compiling the highest batting average on the team.  As boys, they attended the United Methodist Church of Hillsboro where they both sang a solo together for the congregation. As adolescents, Sam and Jim helped their dad at B&J Sales Company by stocking groceries and waiting on customers.

Sam met the love of his life, Patsy Jane Schronk, at the store in Hillsboro. Patsy would find a lot of excuses to go and buy groceries at B&J Sales Company. Sam attended Hillsboro High School and graduated in May of 1958. He attended Navarro Junior College. He then attended East Texas State of Commerce and graduated in 1961. The two love birds dated while Sam was in college. He would drive to Bynum to visit Patsy on the weekends. He asked for her hand in marriage and they made it official on November 11, 1961, at the First Baptist Church of Bynum.

Sam began working at Dallas Power and Light in 1963. DP&L was renamed TXU where he worked until 1997. He worked for American Electric Power (AEP) for five years. He then began working for Dallas County in 2006.  He worked 14 years for the county. He was a contract specialist within the purchasing department. He had a Comptroller of Public Accounts certification by the state of Texas as a Texas Procurement Manager. He had a keen eye for detail and worked tirelessly for the county putting together bids and contracts.

Sam and Patsy had two children, Doug and Robyn. Douglas Allen Cooper was born on April 26th, 1963.  Robyn Renee was born on February 27th, 1972. His children were the loves of his life. His mission in life was to provide for them in any way he knew how. He provided them with love, wisdom, and continual support throughout their lives. He was a pillar of strength for his family. Patsy, Doug, and Robyn knew if they needed anything, Dad would be there to help weather any storm of life. He also provided his family with laughter and love. He would do anything for his family and that he did.

Sam was a simple man and enjoyed old timey radios and 1957 Chevys. It reminded him of a simpler time. He had a 1957 red hardtop and a 1957 white convertible which he loved to drive around town on the weekends. He enjoyed listening to his favorite radio tunes on his 1938 radio before going to bed. He enjoyed being outside in nature. He would spend hours mowing the grass while singing on his John Deere tractor. Sam’s neighbor, Gary, could hear him singing from his house next door.

Sam was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Desoto and Park Cities Baptist Church of Dallas. He had a strong relationship with the Lord. He prayed before meals with family and thanked God for the blessings he had bestowed upon all of us.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mable Mozell Jones and grandfather, Samuel Columbus Jones of Dallas; grandmother, Maude Ellen Beadles Cooper and grandfather, John Breckinridge Cooper of Lamkin, Texas; mother, Elizabeth Jones Cooper and father, James Allen Cooper of Hillsboro; and sister, Betty Cooper Campbell of Dallas.

Sam is survived by his wife, Patsy Schronk Cooper, of 59 years; his brother, Jim Cooper and sister-in law, Sandra Cooper, of Cleburne; son, Doug Cooper and daughter in-law, Lisa Cooper; daughter, Robyn and son in-law, Brian Harding of Houston; grandchildren, Alexis Cooper, Avery Cooper, Payton Cooper, and Preston Cooper; and great-grandchild, Hudson Cooper all of Forney.

He will continue to live through all the family and friends he touched throughout his life and will always be remembered as a kind, loving man that cared deeply for others.