Obituary for Ronnie Cooper

Ponca City Now - May 28, 2014 12:00 am

Ronnie Lee Cooper of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Monday, May 26, 2014, at the age of 55 years.

Ronnie Lee Cooper was born on May 17, 1959, in Blackwell to Richard Ellis and Barbara Nell (Smith) Cooper. He grew up in Blackwell attending Blackwell Public Schools and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1977. While in school he began working for Graves Drug Store. He later worked the Tonkawa Machine Shop and Mertz in Ponca City. He married Ann Marie Paulson on December 31, 1980, and they made Blackwell their home. He then worked for Champion Drilling before becoming an over-the-road truck driver. He opened R. and R. Mechanics which he operated for several years before working for Titus in Ponca City. In 2004 he began working as a roughneck for Mendenhall Drilling in Lamont. He enjoyed working on and drag racing motorcycles and was a handyman around the house. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Cooper of Blackwell; his mother, Barbara Cooper of Blackwell; a son, Lee Cooper of Blackwell; three daughters, Rhonda Cooper and Ray Elam, Jennifer Russell and husband Matthew and Jamie Cooper and Tommy Hicks all of Ponca City; two sisters, Karen Bryant of Blackwell and Lori Braden of Blackwell; a brother, Rick Cooper of Blackwell; and nine grandchildren, Colten, Hannah, Emily, Caitlin, Kodi, Elizabeth, Lee Wayne, Isabella and the new blessing on the way.

He was preceded in death by his father; and a brother, Marvin Cooper.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 31st in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Rick Alexander, Jake Dollarhide, Shaun Alexander, Lee Cooper, Jon Kelly and Mike Holden. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Ben Gessel, Colten Ewy, Jimmy Cooper, Richard Braden, Larry Bryant, Rick Cooper, Ray Elam, Tommy Hicks and Matthew Russell.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for heart research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.