Lillian ‘Jean’ Priddy Cooper, age 89, devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, went home to be with the Lord Saturday April 6. Jean was born in Houston, Texas, May 8, 1934, to Vern Elvyn and Ila May (Nolen) Priddy. During her growing-up years, three Priddy brothers and their wives all shared a house during the depression era. Although an only child, Jean was raised with her two cousins, Rufus Priddy and Thomas Priddy, whom she considered brothers.
Jean graduated from Baylor University with a BA degree in Education, with plans to be a teacher. While at Baylor, Jean met the love of her life and married Davis Lowrey Cooper on November 25, 1955, at the First Baptist Church in Houston, to whom she was married almost 65 years. Davis also graduated from Baylor University and then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, to study for the pastoral ministry. While in Fort Worth, Jean taught elementary and middle school and was a legal secretary.
Jean was a faithful Christian servant, a true Proverbs 31 woman, who was always loving, encouraging and supportive of her husband and children and extended family. Jean had that wonderful genteel south Texas charm with a soft smile and gentle encouraging word for anyone. She often filled in as pianist or organist at all seven of the churches Davis pastored over 42 years, in four states.
Jean worked as a secretary/administrator to several lawyers and an insurance company. A gracious hostess and helper to events at home and at church, she loved to write notes and cards to family and friends, celebrating their special days and accomplishments. Her two personal joys were gardening and reading. Her other pleasures were cards and dominos. When they finally retired to Sun City, Georgetown, Texas, she made sure their yard was a showplace of floral beauty, and joined book clubs, card clubs and domino clubs. She was a person of great influence to all by her quiet but firm, loving and thoughtful expression of her faith in Jesus Christ in all she said and did. Her two favorite bible verses were Proverbs 3:5-6, and Matthew 6:33. Jean is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and daughter Elaine. She is survived by her children, Guy Cooper (Jana), Cheryl True (Walt) and Glynn Cooper (Cyndi), together with nine grandchildren and their spouses, plus six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her two ‘brothers’ Rufus Priddy (JoAnn) and Thomas Priddy and two brothers-in-law Dr. William Cooper and T.R. Cooper (Sally) and many nieces and nephews, plus good friends and neighbors.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at Crestview Baptist Church, 2300 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78621. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Crestview Baptist Church Building Fund in Jean’s memory.