Ira Coan Cogburn-Mayo, age 90, passed away peacefully at her home in Waco on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

A graveside service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Downing Cemetery with family friend Rev. Virgil Cornwell of Savoy officiating.

Ira was born near De Leon on February 11, 1927, the daughter of Maggie Solley and Levi Richard Coan, both from Alabama. At the age of 16, she married Travis J. Cogburn and moved to Waco, where she was a homemaker for several years, raising her two children Sharon Mira and Dale Lynn, and later managed the Comal Cotton fabric store in Westview Village. Soon after earning her G.E.D. in 1981, Ira transferred to New York City to continue working in textile retail sales for West Point – Pepperell. She remarried in 1991 to long-time friend, William "Bill" Mayo of Waco, but remained residing in NYC until 2003.

She was a fiercely independent woman with a keen sense of humor, positive outlook, and warm heart. Lively and bold, Ira never missed an opportunity to socialize, eat out at restaurants, shop at upscale department stores, and adorn herself with jewelry. She loved to travel, sew, walk to work in Manhattan, and meet interesting people. She was a people person, maintaining close correspondence and friendships all of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Clarence Coan, Lloyd Coan, Earl Coan, Lyra Walker, and twin sister, Mira Coan; her son, Dale Cogburn; her daughter, Sharon McElvany; her granddaughter, Lesley Farley; and her husband, Bill Mayo.

Ira is survived by her sister Bernice Otwell of De Leon; her half-brother Doyle O'Neal and wife Peggy of Hico; her granddaughter Jamie Veselka and husband Danny of China Spring; her granddaughter Julie Kawamura and husband Tom of Plano; six great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and countless friends.