Brenda Shirley Cooper passed away Tuesday February 9, 2021 after a battle with Covid-19. Brenda was born in Huntsville, went to West Lawn School and then Farley School. At her age of 14 her family relocated to New Hope, AL. As an exceptional student she earned extra credits and graduated from New Hope High School a year early at the age of 16. She married Gary Cooper in 1960 and had their first child Greg a year later. She attended business school in Huntsville and later went to work on Redstone Arsenal.
There, she worked for an organization from which she would eventually retire, Directorate of Missile Intelligence (DMI), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Missile and Space Intelligence Agency (MSIC). She started as a clerk but was quickly recognized as a brilliant analyst and was moved up within the organization. She went to work within the Land Combat Systems Group where she worked with ballistic missile systems. In 1976 she moved to another branch to work with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. From there, she would eventually retire after 18 years at the senior level and ultimately reaching a GS-13 position. She retired after more than 35 years of service. Not being finished with her career, she went to work as a contractor for Battelle Huntsville Operations as a Principle Research Scientist until their contract was completed. She then went to work for Colsa Corporation as a contractor and worked directly for the owner until her eventual final retirement in or around 2015.
She was preceded in death by mother, Freda M. Shirley and father, E.W. Shirley.
Surviving are husband, Gary Cooper; son, Greg Cooper; daughters, Lisa Cooper (Steve) and Lorie Cooper Gezing (Skeeter); grandchildren, Cory Wales, Alora Ingram (Matt), Dalton Pockrus and Ayden Gezing; great grandchildren, Aubrey Ingram, Bentley, Mavrick Ingram, Parker Wales and Austin Rae Wales; sister, Ronna Burton (Richard); brother, Lowell “Poe” Shirley (Linda); and numerous nieces & nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at New Hope Funeral Home. Services will be held at New Hope Funeral Home Chapel, Sunday at 1:00 pm with Tom Reynolds officiating.
Interment will be in the Hayden Cemetery.
