Gail Thomas Cooper

It is with love and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Gail Thomas Cooper who passed through the gates of heaven on May 8th, 2023. Gail was born on March 6th, 1936 to Lee Sanders and Etoyle Haynes Thomas in Atlanta, GA. She loved telling people she was a native Atlantan, one of the rare birds, and enjoyed telling tales of her youth riding street cars from her family home near Eastlake and date nights at The Varsity downtown.
Friends, travel and tennis were the pleasures of Gail’s life. She loved her Southwest DeKalb High School lifelong friends (class of 1953), King’s Row subdivision in Decatur, GA proved to be another source of devoted friendships and she befriended many other wonderful people during the course of her life who remained devoted to her. The opportunity to work in the travel and leisure planning industry starting in the 1980’s was a dream come true for Gail and provided a gateway to see the world and a constant source of education and experiences. ALTA tennis was her favorite physical and social activity. She swung a mean racket and truly loved the sport, playing well past her seventieth year. Most of all Gail loved her family. Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister were all roles she cherished. She also spoiled her little shadow, Mandy the Bichon pup. Gail loved and was loved by many and we will all remember her life through stories of good times, photos and that warm feeling you have when you know someone is still with you.

Gail is survived by her three daughters and their spouses, Cyndi and Bill Brickell, Cathy and Chris Rumble, Candi and Tommy Myers. Six grandchildren, Zachary Rumble (Kelley), Kara Burns (Cameron), Katlyn Heikkinen (Jesse), Miley Hogan (Jacob), Shelby Fulcher (Austin) and Elsa Myers. Three great-grandchildren Cooper, Sally June and Rosie. Her sister Peggy McCord. And Mandy her loyal pup.
She is pre-deceased by Hugh Dorsey Cooper, Jr., her husband of 56 years, her parents Sanders and Etoyle Thomas and her sister Beverly McGee. Services will be conducted at Flanigan Funeral Home, 4000 South Lee Street, Buford, GA on Tuesday May 16th. The family will receive visitors between noon and 2 p.m. and the service will begin at 2 p.m.
Interment at The Georgia National Cemetery will take place at 10 o’clock on Wednesday May 17th.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in honor of Gail to the Susan G. Komen
Foundation, DIY-Dept. 41829, P.O. Box 801889, Dallas, TX 75380

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.