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Ginger René Cooper, 72, of Garland, TX, passed away Friday, November 29, 2024 in Garland. Ginger was born November 18, 1952 in Greenville, TX to Kenneth Edward Grundei and Kathleen Virginia Renfro. Ginger married Jarman Lane Cooper in Greenville, TX on June 16, 1979. Ginger was of Scottish descent and very proud of her Scottish heritage. She went to Scotland twice with her son, Juston and his wife Linda, and celebrated her 69th birthday there in 2021. In the early 1980's she began studying Arabic from Elias, a Christian Palestinian, and traveled to Egypt, the Holy Land, and to Amman, Jordan to have an audience with her cousin, Queen Noor. With her knowledge of the Middle East, the language, and its history, she became a docent at the Ramses exhibit when it was in Dallas, and got to know Dr. Zahi Hawass, the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities. Later in life, she fell in love with New Orleans and immersed herself in the music and culture of the city. She traveled there in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina to assist in the recovery and help friends salvage their belongings. She spent a great deal of time with her Aunt Harriet, who lived in New Orleans, and cherished the time they got to spend together. Ginger was fascinated with history, especially family history. To her, a thousand years of history was but a few years. She instilled this love of history in her son, and as a result, Juston has been a lifelong student of history, and an avid genealogist. They spent hours talking about his discoveries and how the family fit into history. She loved to sit and look outside at her yard and would spend hours at the computer, searching for everything that crossed her mind. She traveled the world digitally, and at night, would read books. She was a lifelong dog owner, having had Pugs, Bulldogs, and a Cocker Spaniel and deeply loved all of them. Music touched her; all music. She played the piano, and her range of music appreciation spanned from classical to blues, 60’s rock to modern alternative rock. She loved folk music from American folk to Celtic folk, and there was even a Bob Marley album in her collection. She listened to Juston’s Country music, yet she cried the day John Lennon died. Ginger’s husband, Jarman, doted on her. She loved Jarman and appreciated his endless working hours because she knew it was for her and their home. They hosted their close friends and gave them a place to hang out, listen to music, watch movies, and have a delicious meal that Jarman would cook on the grill. Her fondest memories are summers with her grandparents, Otis and Nellie Renfro, riding horses, exploring town, sitting with her grandparents in the same church where Ginger’s funeral is taking place, and going to see the cows with her grandfather. Ginger will be comforted to know that she is being laid to rest in her family plot in Tioga, TX where her parents and grandparents rest. Ginger is survived by her son, Juston Coffman and wife Linda of Garland, TX; three grandchildren, Valerie, Melissa, and Barbara; four great-grandchildren, Savannah, Natalie, Tucker, and Lila; and brother, Kent Grundei of Tioga, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Kathleen; and husband, Jarman. A funeral service will be held at 1:00PM, Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Shiloh Church in Tioga, TX with Pastor Mead McGee officiating. Interment will follow at Tioga Cemetery in Tioga, TX. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Donations to Shriners Children's, Attn: Shriners Children's, PO Box 47765, Atlanta, GA 30394 may be made in Ginger’s memory. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Ginger René Cooper

November 18, 1952 - November 29, 2024