Richard Frank "Butch" Cooper (Plainview)

Richard Frank “Butch” Cooper passed away March 8, 2012 in Austin Texas following a battle with cancer. Butch was born on November 29, 1946 in Tulia, Texas to William Samuel and Frances Jones Cooper. Through his youth he lived in several places in Texas and graduated from Plainview High School in 1965. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Trimarchi Cooper, daughters, Lynnessa Rae Alexander, Denton and Lauren Leigh Dickens and husband Gary of Denton; grandchildren Jeremiah, Hannah, Rebekah and Eli Dickens of Denton. Sisters Virgie Eva Gibson, Marilee Elledge, Elsie Mae Maxwell and Brother William “Billy” Cooper; along with numerous cousins including Charles and Fred Bechtold of Plainview, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Samuel Cooper and Frances Jones Cooper Viher. Butch began a long career with Kentucky Fried Chicken starting as a cook in Plainview then he moved to Amarillo, El Paso, San Antonio, Orlando, Oklahoma City and ending as an Operations Manager in Orange, California. He then began a second career with Fuddruckers which ended with his retirement in 2006 as a Senior VP of Operations. As a young man Butch was passionate about hunting. When he moved to Florida his passion transferred to fishing and boating, then in Oklahoma it became golfing that continued to follow him to California. When he moved to Buda he devoted his time to woodworking and gardening and was often seen walking around his property with his two beloved dogs, Mathilda and Newton. He also helped with building a nature trail in the Elliott Ranch area for members to walk on. The Home Owners Association has voted to rename the trail “Butch Cooper Nature Trail” in honor of Butch who devoted much of his time to maintaining the trail. A memorial will be held at Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel, Saturday March 17th at 10:00am in Plainview, TX with Jeromy Bechtold officiating. The family suggests memorials to the Butch Cooper Nature Trail in c/o Elliott Ranch HOA, 501 Little Bear Rd., Buda, Texas 78610.