Norma Chloe Casey Cooper

Norma Chloe Casey Cooper, 91, of Milan, New Mexico, beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister and Aunt to many, left the earth to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the many friends and family that have gone on before her, on Thursday, September 16, 2021. Norma was born in Whiteflat, Texas, on June 8, 1930, to Oscar Thelma Casey and Monie Perkins Casey, the oldest of four sisters.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2021, from 11 am – 12 pm at Compassion Funeral Home, 120 N. Third St., Grants, NM, 87020, with funeral services following at 12:30 pm. Face masks will be required for attendance at the funeral. Burial to follow at Grants Memorial Park at 2:30 pm.

As a child, Norma loved playing with paper dolls she would cut out of her Mom’s catalogs and spending time with her grandparents Jesse and Esther “Mama” Perkins. Her granddaddy was a horse trader; her greatest hobby was riding horses. At four-years old, Norma was diagnosed with polio, which affected her physically for the extent of her life. However, she never let the effects of the disease slow her down. Instead it contributed to her resilient nature, which helped sustain her through many challenges she would experience in her 91 years of life. In 1949, Norma married James Ray Cooper. James and Norma knew each other as children, attending school in Whiteflat, Texas. They were married shortly after James returned from service in the US Navy. In 1955, they moved to Milan, New Mexico, and returned again for good in 1967, after moving around through several other states in-between. Together they raised 4 children: Sharon Gaye, Shirley Kaye, Arthur Ray, and Alton Jay.

Norma was a passionate follower of Jesus. She loved playing the piano, enjoyed dressing in and surrounding herself with vibrant colors, and she loved to laugh. She was blessed with a special musical talent that allowed her to play any tune simply by listening to it, and she loved to entertain her family with old songs and hymns whenever they came to visit. For many years Norma served as her church pianist at weekly services and as part of women’s prison ministries; and throughout the extent of her life she continued to help those she felt were in need, in any way she could. Norma was a strong woman, full of faith, and she will be dearly missed by us all.

Norma is survived by her Son: Jay Cooper and wife Melanie of Belleville, Michigan; Daughters: Sharon Thomas and husband Clay of Keller, Texas, Shirley Stout of Edmond, Oklahoma; Sister: Joy Nelson and husband David Nelson of Tyler, Texas; 11 Grandchildren and 36 Great Grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her Husband: James Ray Cooper; Son: Arthur Ray Cooper; Parents: Oscar Thelma Casey and Monie Perkins Casey; and Sisters: Barbara Ann Casey Brown and Ramona Casey Parker.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to RBM Ministries in the name of Jay Cooper, P.O. Box 128, Plainwell, MI, 49080-9903.