Evelyn "Dee" Stoops

Evelyn (Rochford) Stoops, known to all as "Dee," peacefully passed away on October 23, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. 

Dee will be fondly remembered for her love and dedication to her family and friends. In October 1988, she tragically lost the love of her life, Coach Ron Stoops Sr. From that moment forward she became the rock and the heart of the Stoops family.

Dee's unwavering support of her 6 children, 18 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, numerous family members and countless friends demonstrated her unrelenting spirit and faith in God. Dee was an ever-present cheerleader to her family. She crisscrossed the country on autumn weekends to celebrate the success of her sons Bob, Mike and Mark, collegiate football coaches. 

In Youngstown, she cheered on her children Ron, Kathy and Maureen (Reenie) and religiously attended her grandchildren's games to proudly cheer them on with her hands in the air. Dee will be remembered as a kind and gentle woman, who dedicated her life to her faith and her family. Indeed, she embodied the Irish Catholic values she worked throughout her life to instill in her family.

Dee, the daughter of Anthony and Mary Kate Rochford, was a proud 1954 graduate of Ursuline High School, where she developed lifelong friends that she remained close with throughout her life. She married Ron Stoops on Valentine's Day in 1956. They were loyal parishioners at St. Dominic's throughout their lives. Together they were blessed with 7 children, losing daughter Mary Jane at birth. Dee was the ultimate example of a wife and mother. Dee loved to take care of her family. She offered tough love and encouragement during hard times and celebrated each accomplishment, no matter how small. 

Dee enjoyed watching and attending football games. First at Cardinal Mooney, where her husband Ron coached and where her sons and grandsons played. From 1978-1990 Dee and the family made frequent trips to the University of Iowa to cheer on Bob, Mike and Mark. Later, she traveled to Kansas State, Florida, Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State, Kentucky and YSU to support her sons. Dee proudly watched her sons participate in over 50 bowl games and win 3 National Championships. While Dee may not have won any bowl games or lifted any National Championship trophies herself, she will be remembered by her family as their true champion. 

Cardinal Mooney was a cornerstone of Dee's life, where her husband taught and coached, and where all of her children and 10 of her grandchildren attended high school. Following Ron's death, she worked as a secretary in the main office of the school where she found comfort and support from the students and staff. In that office, Dee formed friendships with many of her coworkers that she cherished throughout her life. Dee's Mooney family remained a source of love and support for over 65 years.

The true joy in Dee's life was her family. Dee loved for her family to be together, regardless of how large or how spread out it became. She cherished large holiday gatherings, a tidy front lawn and a Sunday dinner table filled with her kids and grandkids. She adored the family's annual summer trips to the beach and winter trips to bowl games, where she loved playing cards and doting on her many grandkids and great-grandkids. Watching her large family succeed in life filled her with pride and joy. 

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ron, her daughter Mary Jane, her brother, Tom Rochford, and her in-laws, Paul and Sandy Stoops, Jim Stoops and Marianne Kralj. 

Left to cherish her memory are her children Ron (Bonnie), Kathy (Walter) Kohowski, Bob (Carol), Mike (Erin), Maureen (Todd) Farragher, Mark, her 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

In addition, she leaves her in-laws, Margie Rochford, Bob (JoAnn) Stoops and Alex Kralj. 

Family and friends may pay their respects from 2 to 6 PM Sunday at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, 3701 Starr's Centre Drive, Canfield, Ohio 44406.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Monday at St. Dominic Church, 77 E Lucius Ave, Youngstown, OH 44507.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ron Stoops Scholarship Fund ℅ Cardinal Mooney High School, 2545 Erie Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44507, or cardinalmooney.com/donate.