Chris A. Cooper

Cooper, Chris A.

Chris's journey started as most little boys do, being a smart little shit. He spent his childhood making trouble and smiling his way out of it. After graduating from Parkway Central in 1987, he spent the next year tearing around St. Louis and St. Charles County on his motorcycle. On Nov. 1st, 1988, he enlisted into the Army and took off to Fort Hood.

The Army had a profound impact on his life. He learned how to control his chaos and funnel his energy into taking care of those around him that need it. During Desert Storm and Desert Shield, he saved the lives of many Kuwaiti people along the DMZ. The military also afforded him the ability to develop into a master marksman, he set a course record at Fort Bragg, breaking the existing record that had been standing since 1976. The adventures the military provided him were among some of his favorite memories; traveling to Antartica, patrolling the Black Forest in Germany, and so many more. Chris left the Army on April 13th, 1994 as a highly decorated Sergeant E-5, receiving many metals, badges, and campaign ribbons.

When he returned to civilian life, he put himself through college by moonlighting as a fry-cook at the local Hooters. Unfortunately, he was not given the short-shorts or the tank top, though he would have worn them proudly. Nearing the end of his college career, he began working at the GE plant in Wellston. He spent his time manufacturing lightbulbs, making friends, and bringing home tiny pieces of scrap metal to put in jars in the garage never to be touched again. He graduated from Missouri Tech in 2001 with his Bachelor's Degree in Science of Electronics Engineering. He went on to become an expert in robotics and automation. His career took him from St. Louis to Japan, China, and Taiwan to Ohio and back to St. Louis. He was a company man, he put his everything into every project he worked on with joy.

In his free time, he never stopped being a smart little shit. He got in "good trouble" at every opportunity. He loved building and working on motorcycles, and doing the sketchiest things on them. Whether that be dragging his steel-toed boots down the highway or accidentally ramping off a pile of chat rock. His marksmanship landed him the top spot at many 200 yard and 300 yard competitions hosted by the Erie County Conservation League, of which he was an avid member. Chris fell in love with the Ozarks. He would be happy to roadtrip through old fire roads, float down a river, or fall asleep on a rock bar. It took nothing more than a suggestion to get him to jump off a cliff into the river or let a crawdad pinch him and be worn like a nipple ring. However, once he was blessed with grandkids, his focus shifted to being able to spend as much of his time with them as possible. He took many trips to Surf Side Beach, South Carolina to spend his birthday with them.

Chris was the life of the party and always the coolest person in the room. His mischievous grin never left his face. Chris was preceded in death by: his father, Robert Cooper; maternal grandparents (Parkinson); and fraternal grandparents (Cooper). He is survived by: his "lovely and gracious" wife, Susan (Bequette) Cooper; two daughters, Jessica (Cooper) Bishop & husband George, Shelby Bequette-Blasa & partner Jamie Mays; brother, Greg Cooper & partner Teri Terranova; mother, Kathleen (Parkinson) Cooper; three grandchildren, Miller, Max, and Sidney Bishop; loving niece, Megan Cooper; and nephews, Jake Bequette and Nick Bequette & wife Abbie.

Services: Visitation Thursday, May 11, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Collier's Funeral Home, 3400 N. Lindbergh Blvd. (St. Ann). Inurnment Friday, May 12, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. www.colliersfuneralhome.com