Meade et alia note that the Carson piece (and the others under that title) was based on 'Mother and Home' w&m by W.J. Laney ca 1910 which was recorded several times by Vernon Dalhart in 1924 and 1925. They suggest the title line, 'You'll Never Miss Your Mother Until She's Gone', was probably from an 1885 composition, but refer to Harry Birch rather than Cooper/French that Joe has posted from American Memory - I don't know what the story is there.

--Stewie.