Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
Dr. Ray Cooner is a familiar face in the Jasper community.
Since 1981, he has owned and practiced at Cooner Dental. He and his wife, Lethea, have built a thriving business and a family deeply rooted in health and service. They are immensely proud of their three children: Dr. Logan Cooner, who practices alongside Dr. Ray at Cooner Dental; Mason Cooner, who holds a degree in biology and plans to continue medical research; and RaeAnna Harper, a dedicated nurse practitioner.
Dr. Ray grew up in Jasper, attending local schools, then pursued a college education at Birmingham Southern College, earning a degree in chemistry. While at Birmingham Southern, he was undecided on a career path and began an interim term that allowed him to gain experience first-hand in several fields.
“I spent time in different fields to decide which one I wanted to enter. I was at a hospital for about four weeks to observe surgeries, but they were short-staffed. and after three days, they started using us to pass instruments. I loved the surgery, but I also experienced the recovery process, and it was sad; I decided I didn’t want to do that. I also spent some time in research. It was very interesting, but ultimately, I didn’t want to enter research,” says Dr. Ray. “I eventually decided on dentistry, although I didn’t have any knowledge of it. I kind of chose it through a process of elimination, and I ended up loving it.”
Dr. Ray completed four years of dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated in 1981, opening his practice shortly after. At the time, there were very few comprehensive practices in the area, and Dr. Ray has experienced a little bit of everything in dentistry over the years. However, he never lost his passion and interest in the field.
During dental school, Dr. Ray earned his pilot’s license and spent most of his free time flying around the country. His favorite trips include Key West, Florida, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Destin, Florida. “Fly there, hop out, have a sandwich, and fly back!”
Though he has since stopped piloting, Dr. Ray continues to practice dentistry. He still has a hand in the practice’s day-to-day operations, but now specializes in prosthetics. He hopes to one day fully hand the family business to Logan and enjoy retirement.
“Since 1981, I have been very busy. It seems like a blur, but it’s been great getting to know people. I’ve worked with a lot of people I knew and hired some new people, but I’ve enjoyed being part of a team,” says Dr. Ray. “I now have seven grandkids and one on the way, so I’m looking forward to having more time to spend with them. But looking back, I can say this: being able to serve and getting to know people has been the best part of my job over the years.” WL
