John William Cooper

John William Cooper, 89, of Odessa, passed away December 4, 2018 at his home. Funeral services will be Monday, December 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 South Second Street, Odessa. Visitation will also be on Monday at the funeral home from 12:00 until 2:00 pm. Burial will be in McKendree Cemetery, Odessa. Memorials may be made to New Beginning Free Will Baptist Church or McKendree Cemetery.

John was born January 7, 1929 to John Mark and Elsie Purvis (Phillips) Cooper. He married Eva May Kincaid September 6, 1947 in Climax Springs, Missouri. John worked for Allis Chalmers for 29 years, retiring in 1984. He was a member of the United Steelworkers Union. He was a farmer and raised Belgian Horses. John was ordained a minister in 1981 and served at Free Will Baptist Churches in Climax Springs and Kaiser, Missouri.

John is survived by his wife of 71 years, of the home; grandchildren, Darrell D. Cooper, Jr. of Odessa, John D. Cooper of Odessa, DeLane G. Cooper of Odessa, Kyla L. Roberts and husband Adam of Edwards, Missouri and Justin D. Cooper and wife Kara of Lowery City, Missouri; eight great grandchildren; nine great great grandchildren; and daughter in law, Betty Cooper; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Darrell Dwayne Cooper and Johnny Dwight Cooper; brothers, Gerrold Cooper, Harold Cooper and George Cooper; and sisters Hope Trapp, Gertrude Raines and Gelenna Emmerich.