A 19-year-old Wayne City woman, Tracy Lynn Cooper, was found dead at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 1980 at her home in Wayne City, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gun blast. 

Miss Cooper, a Wayne City High School graduate, was struck in the chest by a blast from a 12 gauge automatic shotgun, said Terry Richardson, Deputy Wayne County Coroner.

She was found in the basement of the home by her brother, Eddie.  Her body was on the floor, slumped against the wall.  The shotgun, owned by the family, was found beside her.

A suicide note was not found.  She had been under a physician's care for a nerve problem, the Wayne County Press was told.

The deputy coroner will conduct an inquest later.

Services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at Richardson's Chapel in Wayne City with Bro. Bill Auxier and Bro. Richard McCormick officiating.  Burial was in Thomason Cemetery.

Miss Cooper was born in Jefferson County March 5, 1960, the daughter of C.E. And Mary Ann (Musgrave) Cooper.  She was never married.

She graduated from Wayne City High School a few years ago.  She was not employed.  Her mother was an employee of the Wayne City Garment Factory.

Surviving are her parents, her brother, Eddie, of Wayne City; a grandfather, Chester Cooper, of Mt. Vernon; a grandmother, Florene Musgrave, of Wayne City; a great-grandmother, Rella Musgrave, of McLeansboro; and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam McCormick, of Wayne City.