Memorial services will be at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Canyon, with Minister D.L. Harguess, retired minister, officiating. Mr. Cooper was born on December 15, 1914 at the Raines Farm, west of Hedley in Donley County to Charles Oscar and Annie Viola Sharp Cooper, one of seven children. In 1930 the family moved to Canyon from Hedley. Clay attended Canyon High School for one year before moving to McLean in order that he could be employed in the grocery business by his older brother John. After graduating from McLean High School in 1932, he returned to Canyon to attend West Texas Normal College. Economic conditions were so depressed, he replaced his father in a grocery store position because he could work for less pay. His father took a job with the Works Progress Administration, building the road to Palo Duro Canyon. After a short period of time they were given the opportunity to work together in the same grocery store. On January 1, 1934, Clay and his father purchased the Jacobson"s M System as partner"s on the west side of the square in Canyon. Clay had just turned nineteen year"s old and would be self-employed for his entire life. He continued working in the grocery store and attended college after taking a two year absence because of the depression. Clay graduated in 1939. Clay and C.O. were very fortunate to have several local friends that loaned them the money to purchase the grocery store. On April 18, 1937, Clay and Ermyle Ruth Hill were married in a double wedding at the First Baptist Church parsonage in Raton, Colfax County, New Mexico. Ermyle was a school teacher at Leslie in Hall County. Ermyle continued to teach in Hall County, even though she often was paid in script. Clay and Ermyle had one son, Charles Eugene Cooper, born September 7, 1939. In September 1946, Clay and C.O. Cooper built a new store on the North East corner of the square. C.O. Cooper died on May 26, 1948. Clay continued the business with his mother as partner until she passed away on May 29, 1961, when he purchased her interest. Clay again moved the grocery store to a new building in October 1966, where the First Baptist Church Ministries Center is located today. Benny Cooper, a nephew, purchased the grocery store in June of 1969. In 1970, Clay and Ermyle moved to Eureka County, Nevada. Residing there from March through October each year to continue working on developing desert land that the family had owned for ten years. He continued working on that development until March of 1997 when the Cooper and Allen families sold their interest. Clay Cooper was one of the original directors of Panhandle Associated Grocers, which became Affiliated Foods in 1968 when it combined with South Plains Associated Grocers. He held the position as a director until he sold his grocery store interest in 1976. He loved to hunt and fish, attend baseball and football games across the United States. He would never fly under any circumstances, although he received many offers. Clay was a member of Canyon"s First Baptist Church for 60 years, a member of the Canyon City Lodge #730 for 72 years, a charter member of the Canyon Noon Lion"s Club for 72 years, Panhandle Plains Historical Society, Kiva Shrine, 60 years, West Texas A&M University Alumni Association, Alpha Chi Honor Society and Old Main Society. He was also a Trustee of Canyon Independent School District. He was preceded in death by his parents,; his wife; two brothers, John and Jackie Neil; and four sisters, Faye, Hazel, Margarite and Mary Lee. Special mention to his care givers who helped make his life comfortable, Ruby, Dee, Socorra, Belinda, and Nelda. Survivors inlcude his son, Charles E. of Canyon; nieces, Ruth Harguess and husband, D.L. of Canyon, Ann Wood and husband, the Rev. Wayne of Garland, Mary Allen of Georgetown and Dr. Pat Cooper of Houston, Billie Helene Goettsch and husband, Robert, of Corde