Lavelle “Velle” (Cooper) Cobb “Nonnie” Actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn wisely declared, “…The true beauty of a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.” Just such a caring and passionate woman, Lavelle Cobb passed away on February 10, 2016, ninety years beautiful. Born on December 6, 1925, in Rising Star, Texas, Lavelle grew up in Refugio, located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Her parents were Delbert and Minnie Pearl Allen Cooper—an oilfield worker (who passed away at age 42) and a hardware store employee. Lavelle had one sister (Mamie Ruth Cooper Rogers) and was the sole survivor of her immediate family. While growing up in the Valley, Lavelle enjoyed the companionship of many friends—including her best friend, Margie King—as she played softball, went crab fishing and sang in the church choir before graduating from Refugio High School. Blessed with an iron will as well as a caring nature, Lavelle vacillated between putting her strengths to use as either a nun or a nurse, then finally decided to enter nursing school in San Antonio. While studying nursing, Lavelle met Clarence Willis Cobb—who looked irresistibly dashing in his Navy Whites—then wrote her mother that she had met the man she would marry. Sure enough, just before Clarence shipped out to Pearl Harbor, he and Lavelle were married in San Antonio. Eventually, two daughters would join their family: Georgia Ruth Cobb Matthews (and husband Melvin) and Deborah Marie Cobb Osbourn (and husband Donald), who now survive both their parents, as Clarence died in 2002. Since Lavelle’s nursing studies were interrupted for a time by her familial responsibilities, she directed her passion into raising her family as well as cattle and racehorses; she was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. After moving to Bryan, she committed herself to God and was baptized into Reliance Baptist Church, where she remained a member for the next 60 years. Ultimately, Lavelle did return to nursing and worked at Madisonville Hospital—delivering many babies and comforting those in end-of-life care—where she was known to make “men shake in their boots” since she liked things done her own way; additionally, she later worked at Humpty Dumpty Day Care. Often, Lavelle didn’t have to say much in expressing herself to others: a raised eyebrow and a smile got her point across. She was hard to miss, dressed in her favorite color, aqua (“not blue, not turquoise”). Luckily, Velle was just as serious about her work as she was about relaxation, especially in terms of family time. She never lost her softball pitching arm strength—she “could catch a roll from across a restaurant”—or her love for a good bass fishing hole or a day at the beach. She appreciated rodeos and horseraces—especially those featuring the horses she raised— and enthusiastically cheered others on. Her most memorable vacations included a trip to Hawaii (during which she took a stroll down the main strip in her wheelchair and visited a pineapple plantation) and roadtrips to Branson (where she met Ann-Margaret) and Vegas, with stops to visit Clarence’s Navy buddies along the way. Of course, she loved spending time with her grandchildren, including: Marshall Wayne Matthews (and wife Charla), Joe Don Osbourn (and wife Jana), Karen Lynn Osbourn Waites (and husband Dobson) and Sharon Matthews Vernon (and husband Rick Jr.). Her great-grandchildren also adored her; they are Katie Brooke Matthews, Montana Matthews, Fallon Marie Matthews, Krystian Marie Osbourn, Cade Evan Osbourn, Joseph Waites, William Waites and Cooper Wayne Matthews (given Velle’s maiden name). In her final days, Velle was given compassionate and loving care by Mary Rodriguez, who now has the Cobb family’s deepest gratitude. Family and friends will gather to share memories and honor the life of Velle on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 5-7 PM at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan. The Life Celebration of Velle Cobb will be held at 3 PM on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan with Pastor Ray Marshall officiating. Interment will follow at Wixon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials and donations be made to Reliance Baptist Church. To learn more about Velle’s life and legacy, or leave condolences, please visit www.hillierfuneralhome.com
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