James Louis Cooper, 76, of Caddo Mills, passed away March 30, 2016 following a battle with cancer. A Service of Remembrance will be held at the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. and the service at 2:00 p.m.
James was born June 1, 1939 in Dayton, Ohio, to James Paul Cooper and Mildred June (Wallick) Cooper. He was raised in the upstate Rochester, New York area. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, with a cum laude degree in Business Administration. His working career, initially in industrial procurement, was followed by positions of Applications Technician, Applications Engineer, and Field Project Manager for Railroad and Rail Transit installation projects which allowed him to travel widely within the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico and Europe. His final working destination turned out to be Dallas, Texas where he oversaw the installation and testing of the Train Control and Operating Control systems for the D.A.R.T. Light Rail Transit System from 1994 to his retirement in early 2005.
James is survived by his wife, Barbara Lynn (Houser) Cooper of Caddo Mills; sons, Paul Edward Cooper of Rochester, NY, Joshua James Cooper and wife, Heather of Portland, Oregon, daughter, Janine Marie Lawton and husband, Kirk of Manassas, Virginia; sister, Sande June Cooper of Carson City, Nevada; brother, Michael Bruce Cooper and wife, Colleen of Lafayette, Indiana; step-son, Todd Rowan and wife, Tenee of Fate, step-daughter, Donna Fraley and husband, Jim of Scroggins; as well as 10 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
James is preceded in death by his parents; and his younger brother, Richard Allen.
Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 3801-9908.