Dee Ann Cooper

Dee Ann Cooper née O’Keefe, formerly Reed MS PG was born in Jacksonville, Florida the 27th of November 1947 to father, Paul D. O’Keefe and mother, Marlynn Ann Fleck O’Keefe. She was the eldest of four children. Her parents were both in the US Navy, so she spent her childhood moving throughout the country with her family. Of all the places she lived, Hawaii was one of her favorites.

Dee Ann married her first husband Terry Reed in 1971. Together they had one child, Sean Scot Reed.

She became a journalist in both print and radio. In 1980, she came to Beaumont, Texas to accept a job at KAYD 97.5FM. In 1992 after her son went off to college at the University of Texas, Dee Ann decided to go back to college. She became an Associate Member of Sigma Xi in 1996. She received a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1997 through Lamar University. Dee Ann then decided to further her education at the University of Louisiana, ultimately earning her Masters in 2000. In her time at the University of Louisiana she was also a Graduate Teaching Assistant. She enjoyed her days teaching and became an adjunct teacher at Lamar University. Dee Ann became a Research Fellow with the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas. She was also a Research Fellow with the Texas Natural Science Center in the Non-Vertebrate Paleontology section.

After graduating from Lamar in 1997, she began dating her late husband, Roger Cooper. The two wed July 24, 1998. Dee Ann and Roger enjoyed antiquing and being out in the field doing research.

Dee Ann enjoyed telling stories of her late brother James O’Keefe and his infamous cat Poo-Cat. She would tell stories of her grandma Fleck and what a wonderful woman she was. As a young child she enjoyed standing in a specific chair while helping her grandma in the kitchen. Roger had found an exact match to the chair she cherished and keeps the chair in her own kitchen.

Dee Ann was a special and unique person who enjoyed a full life of love and adventure. She will be dearly missed. Dee Ann’s favorite quote was, “Come further up, come further in!” -C.S. Lewis

Memorial contributions for Mrs. Cooper may be made to St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 690 North 15^th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702.

A gathering of Mrs. Cooper’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with her Trisagion at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 1, 2023, at St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 690 North 15^th Street, Beaumont, with her interment to follow at St. Michael Cemetery, Beaumont.