Marion D. Cooper passed away on September 15, 2014, at the age of 93. He was born on March 9, 1921 in Greeley, KS and moved to California at the age of 17. Shortly thereafter he met a redheaded cowgirl named Mary Lee Rhoades at a rodeo in Monticello. She became his wife of 66 years and mother to his four children: Rose, Ron, Gerry and Bill.
Marion served in the US Army and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. He also worked as a rancher and a plumber, retiring at the age of 62. Rarely seen without his Stetson hat, buckle, and boots, he prided himself in being an American cowboy. He loved to be called “Cowboy Coop” and spent many years in the saddle riding trails and fence lines, breaking horses and teaching his children how to ride. Called “Bapa” by his grandchildren, his family was his pride and joy. With twinkling blue eyes and an engaging smile, he was often heard saying “I love my family. I’m so very proud of every one of them.”
He is survived by three children: Rosa Lee Williams, Ronald Cooper (wife Inge), and Bill Cooper; eight grandchildren: Randy, Dale & Shawn Williams, Michael, Michele, Chris, Marissa and Dallas Cooper and seven great-grandchildren: Matthew, Jordan, Cooper, Brian, Miles, Dakota, and Colton. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary (2007) and son Gerry (1987).
Graveside services will be held Tuesday September 23, 2014 at St. Helena Cemetery at 2:00pm. Memories and words of sympathy may be shared on-line at www.tulocaycemetery.org.
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