July 6, 1922 - October 4, 2021
A funeral service for Mary Ruth (Baker) Cooper, age 99, will be 2:00PM, Saturday, October 9, 2021, at Central Christian Church, with the Rev. Tom Stanley and Rev. Don Johnson officiating. Mary Ruth passed away on Monday, October 4th, at Greenbrier Nursing Home. Burial will be at the Enid Cemetery under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home & Crematory.
Mary Ruth was born on July 6, 1922, to Ernest Ralph Baker and Violette (Jacobs) Baker on the family farm southwest of Enid. Her parents sold the farm for the construction of Enid Army Airfield, now Vance AFB. The west industrial gate of Vance AFB was renamed "The Baker Gate" in 2008.
Mary Ruth attended Sunnyslope Grade School, Emerson JHS, and graduated from Enid HS in 1939. She graduated from Enid Business College in 1941. In February, 1942, she went to Washington D.C. to work in the U. S. Treasury Department during WWII as an accountant. After receiving her permanent civil service rating, she transferred to Vance AFB, where she met her future husband, Clifton Cooper. After a short courtship, they were married on February 6, 1944.
After the war was over, they started and operated Clifton Cooper General Tire Service on west Maine in Enid until selling the business in November of 1983. Mary Ruth and Cliff loved to travel. They visited Israel twice, Rome, Italy, Amman and Petra, Jordan, as well as Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and all 48 contiguous states.
Mary Ruth was a charter member and past President of the Sooner Sunday School Class at Central Christian Church, where she was a lifelong member. She was a Bible scholar and taught multiple Bible study groups over the years, ending in 2019.
She is survived by one son, Tim, of K.C., MO., four grandchildren, William Clifton Cooper and wife Samara, and Matthew Timothy Cooper, both of Hutchinson, KS., Robyn Marie Gisick and husband Mike, of Wichita, KS., and Lindsay Jo Ross and husband Michael, of Tulsa, OK., twelve great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Brad and wife Cindy, one brother, Ralph Baker and wife Luella, sisters Zella Fairleigh and husband Fred, Ernestine Malden and husband Harold, Vera Sue Bunch and husband Frank, and two infant brothers Lavern and Duane.
The family wishes to thank the Hackett Family and the many loving and caring individuals at all of the Greenbrier Village facilities for taking such wonderful care of Mary Ruth for the past 6 years.
Condolences can be made to the family online at Andersonburris.com. Honored to be recognized nationally, the past 6 years, for the Pursuit of Excellence award. Because family matters, let us take care of yours. We are proud to own the only crematory in Garfield county and ensure your loved one receives the care and respect they deserve while never leaving our care. Visit 3002 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-2700.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
A United Methodist Retirement Community
Tours: 301 S. Oakwood | (580) 237-6164
Enid's Only Faith-based, Not-For-Profit, Complete Continuous Care Community. Including Long Term Care, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care, Assisted Living, Independent Living Apartments and Townhomes.
