Hugh Cooper

Eugene Hugh Cooper, age 79, passed away May 9, 2007 at Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari following an illness. Hugh was born July 30, 1927 in Edna, Oklahoma to the home of Ernest Elbert and Lula Pauline Blevins Cooper. Hugh came to New Mexico at a young age to work on a ranch. He joined the United States Army during WWII and returned back to New Mexico where he continued ranching. Hugh married Bernice Teenie Standridge on June 26, 1944 in Antlers, OK. Hugh and Teenie owned and operated Cooper Feed Company in Santa Rosa for many years. They were active in the New Mexico High School Rodeo where they produced many Rodeos. Hugh raised Paint Horses and he and Teenie owned and operated Thoreau Shopping Center in Thoreau, NM until 1986 when the moved to Tucumcari where he semi retired and sold cattle and horses and raised bucking bulls and horses until his health slowed him down. Hugh is preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, his wife Teenie, 2 sisters; Orvalee Barnhart and Willa Higgins. Survivors include his niece; Vickie Brown, Brother in Law; John Higgins, nephew's; Hugh Chambliss, John R Higgins, Freddie Higgins, Geno Higgins and Joe Higgins. Also surviving are his good friends Don and Bonnie Thompson and family as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 12, at 1:00 PM from the First Baptist Church in Santa Rosa with Rev.Van Espy officiating. Masonic graveside services will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers will be Bo Cribbs, Ace Thompson, Don Sultiemier, Kenneth McKenzie, Don Thompson, Ted Hern, John R. Higgins, Albert Flinn and Gary Thompson. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be Ernie Rogers, Clyde Pickett, Buddy Walker, Ralph Maynard, Hugh Chambliss, John Higgins, Doug Harrison, Joe Gomez, Todd Tucker and Pete Cordova. All services are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 923 South 3rd Street, Santa Rosa, NM (505)472-3369 www.chavezfuneralhome.com.