Gary Cooper

Gary Brooks Cooper, 74, of Murfreesboro passed from this earthly home bound for a heavenly home in the early hours of August 31st, 2019 with his wife Cleta, of 35 years, and family by his side. He was born August 23, 1945, the son of the late Bill Cooper and the late Anna Ruth (Freeman) Cooper . Gary was a Baptist by faith. He was a United States Airforce Veteran of the Vietnam War Era and served as a Deep Sea Survival Specialist. Gary graduated from Nashville High School and Henderson State University. He was a Nashville Scrapper in a den of Rattlers, a Henderson Reddie (forever), and a die-hard Texas Longhorn fan in a sea of Arkansas Razorbacks. He retired from the Arkansas State Forestry Commission where he was known as Ranger #222 and 'Smokey Bear' before passing the 'mantle (or suit) on to his grandson Ranger Brian Mitchell to carry on the family tradition started by his father, Ranger Bill Cooper. He is preceeded in death by both parents, Bill and Anna Ruth Cooper. He survived by his wife, Cleta F. (Turner) Cooper. Two (2) daughters- Debbie (Crisp) Shukers and husband, Doug of Murfreesboro; Lisa (Crisp) Ritterbush and husband, the late Larry Ritterbush of Murfreesboro. One (1) son - Brooks Cooper and wife Rachel of Redwater, TX. Five (5) grand-children- Douglas 'DJ' Shukers, II and wife, Lyndsey of Hot Springs; Mandy Ballard and husband, Luke of Hot Springs; Brian Mitchell and wife, Dana of Murfreesboro; Sam Cooper and Tyler Brooke Cooper of Redwater, TX. Six (6) great grand-children- Desiree Shukers of Hot Springs; Peyton Ballard and Ryan Ballard of Hot Springs; Jared Taylor, Kamryn Taylor and Emery Claire Mitchell of Murfreesboro. One (1) brother- Bill Douglas Cooper of Texarkana, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Services will be held Latimer Funeral Home in Murfreesboro, Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 2:00 PM, with visitation from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM just prior to the service. Interment will be at Pike City Cemetary following the service. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gary Cooper please visit our Sympathy Store.