Linda Kay Cooper is an educator known to many as the first wife of Jimmy Johnson, the famous American football coach and sports analyst.
Although not a public figure, her association with Johnson during his rise to fame and role as a dedicated educator attracted her attention.
Shared experiences marked their nearly three-decade marriage as he transformed from a college athlete to an NFL legend.
Cooper’s journey highlights her commitment to education, family, and navigating life with a remarkable partner.
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- Full name: Linda Kay Cooper
- Date of birth: January 17, 1942
- Age (as of 2024): 84 (died in 2003)
- Gender: Female
- Birthplace: Marked Tree, Arkansas, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Educator
- Height: Not applicable
- Parents: Reginald Taft Cooper (father) and Martha Virginia Cooper (mother)
- Siblings: Teddy Neal Cooper (brother) and JoAnn Moody (sister)
- Spouse: Jimmy Johnson (1963–1990), Roger Kent Aronson (later)
- Children: Brent Johnson, Chad Johnson
- Relationship status: Dead
- Religion: Not applicable
- Ethnicity: White
- Net worth: 200 thousand USD
Early life and education
Born in Marked Tree, Arkansas, on January 17, 1942 and posthumously aged 82 as of 2024. Linda Kay Cooper spent her early years in a close-knit family as the youngest child in the family has three siblings.
Her father, Reginald, and her mother, Martha, played key roles in shaping her values. She grew up with her brother Teddy and sister JoAnn, who are still part of her support system.
Linda attended the University of Arkansas, where she majored in education. While there, she met Jimmy Johnson, a college football player.
At the age of 21, Linda married Jimmy, starting a new chapter in their journey together. Her pursuit of learning and dedication to education were fundamental to her identity throughout her life.
Personal life
Linda and Jimmy Johnson were married in 1963, both in their mid-20s and still studying at the University of Arkansas. Together, they had two sons, Brent and Chad, and built a family based on shared values and mutual respect.
Linda supported Jimmy throughout his burgeoning soccer coaching career, balancing her role as a mother with her work as an educator. Their marriage ended in 1990 amid dramatic changes in Jimmy’s career when he became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
While Jimmy cites a desire for independence as a factor in their separation, Linda’s views on the divorce remain less documented. After their divorce, Linda remarried Roger Kent Aronson and led a more private life until her death in 2003.
Career
Linda Kay Cooper devoted her career to education. She has worked as a teacher in various capacities, including work abroad in countries such as Venezuela.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes compassion and the transformative power of education. She left a lasting impression on many students who admired her commitment to their development.
Net worth
Linda Kay Cooper’s net worth at the time of her death was approximately $200 thousand
Death
Linda Kay Cooper died on October 6, 2003, at the age of 61. She lived her final years with her second husband, Roger Kent Aronson, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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