Roy Cooper

1932 - 2021

JONESBORO - Roy Edward Cooper was born to Paul and Clara Ruth Cooper on October 17, 1932.

He spent his younger years in a rural area between what is now Jonesboro and Brookland. He attended Clinton school early on and later graduated from Jonesboro High School and the University of Arkansas where he earned a degree in civil engineering with a minor in architecture.

He went on to become the president of Cooper Construction Co. and later started Cooper Land and Development Co.

He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school superintendent, and chaired numerous committees.

He was on several boards including those of Williams Baptist College and the Salvation Army.

He served on the boards of both Mercantile Bank, and following the merger, with Union Planters Bank, serving as chairman of the board in the late 1990s. He also served on the executive committee.

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club where he was presented with the Legion of Honor Award in March 2018 upon the anniversary of 60 years of service to the club.

Later that year, he was presented with the Walter Zeller Fellowship.

He also served as an officer in the Arkansas National Guard 875th Engineering Battalion.

In his 70s, he was led to the Huntington Avenue area to plant Huntington Church where he focused much of his time and energy on meeting and growing to love many of the people in the 60-block area.

He was relentless in his pursuit of this call on his life. He desired to serve the Lord and lead others to Christ.

He could often be found driving through the neighborhood serving his new friends. In this vein, he was instrumental in dental clinics, block parties, after-school tutoring, getting folks treatment for drug and alcohol addictions, and meeting the basic needs of people while leading them to a relationship with the Lord.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Clara Cooper, one brother, Thomas Cooper, and three infant sisters.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Lois Anne Cooper; four children, Cindy Cooper, Margaret Cooper, Eddie and Lee Cooper and Tim and Candace Cooper; 16 grandchildren, Erik and Brooke Looney, Nate Looney and Courtney McGahhey, Jacob Lee and Nicole Elby, Winston Lee, Ryan Amador, Murray Cooper, Matt Cooper, Claira and Judd Alsup, Trey and Haley Cooper, Savannah and Dave McCarthy, Leo Cooper, Jessa Cooper, Josiah Cooper, Sloan Quinn, Cross Quinn and Maeve Cooper; and seven great-grandchildren, Cooper Looney, Kate Looney, Tessa Looney, Ellison Alsup, Maggie Quinn Alsup, Stella Cooper and Mac McCarthy.

Anyone wishing to send a memorial might want to consider Huntington Church, 901 W. Huntington Ave., Jonesboro 72401 or First Baptist Church, 701 S. Main St., Jonesboro 72401. Both were very dear to his heart.

Visitation was held on Wednesday evening at Emerson Funeral Home and will also be held beginning at noon today, Dec. 9, prior to the service at Huntington Church.

The memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. with Brother Eddie Cooper officiating.

Online registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com