Our beloved Professor Pappy, Ronald Wayne Cooper, passed away on Tuesday, April 6th after succumbing to the last illness in his decades-long battle with complications from his exposure to Agent Orange while serving our country in Vietnam. He was a man of principle, and his last principled stand was that he would pass from this world in the home he and his loving wife Becky built, surrounded by the musical voices of his children and grandchildren. As so often in his life, Ron stubbornly clung to this principle and, after superhuman effort, began his journey to Heaven in sight of his grandchildren playing in the backyard while being embraced by those with whom he had most travelled through this life.

Ron is survived by his wife, Becky (Williamson) Cooper; daughter and her husband Laura Lee and John Nickle; son and his wife Matthew and Kali Cooper; and his grandchildren Olivia and Isaiah Cooper Nickle. He was predeceased by son, Andrew. Other survivors include his brother, Larry Outlaw and wife Dione; niece Beth and husband Wayne, and their child, Katie; mother-in-law, Florene Williamson; and many loved cousins, aunts, and uncles.  Ron was born to Flonnie Cooper (nee Hamlin) in Mayo, FL  on October 23, 1946 and, along with his brother Larry, was soon adopted by his father Harold Cooper. Ron's life began in a two-room farmhouse amongst thirteen members and three generations of family. That humble beginning belied the rich and fully modern path he would forge, a life full of accomplishments and breadth.

A true southern gentleman, Ron carried forward the values of his roots throughout his life and was always ready to apply them to a changing world. He believed strongly that this world was worth fighting for and, early in his life, this meant volunteering to defend his country by going to Vietnam, twice. He came back with a different perspective and those same values then compelled him to instead work to end that war. He will be remembered for marching with Ralph Abernathy and others in support of equality for all people, for partnering with his wife in running their successful business, for giving a job to a man on the street. Yet despite his strong belief in equality, fairness, truth, and justice, Ron would still occasionally suggest that it was time for the women to do the dishes just to get his daughter's dander up.

While losing son, Andy, was the great tragedy of his life, Ron never forgot life was a joyous adventure to be lived and explored. Ron's latest adventure was running a home-school science academy for his grandchildren, but his passion was seen in finding new and novel ways of building six new swings for his grandchildren, splashing through creeks, swinging from vines, and creating ziplines for their enrichment and entertainment. Ron passed a love for knowledge and his active, analytical mind on to his son, Matthew, who carries on that legacy – Ron proudly reminded people that he was "Mr. Cooper" and it was his son who was Dr. Cooper. Ron loved nothing more than being brought up to speed on the latest research or problem Matthew was working on.

Ron taught his children what it means to be a partner through his passionate commitment to his wife, Becky. The love story they wrote with their lives over the last 46 years, from Florida to Alaska, during quiet times at home or the beauty of travel, through terrible loss and great joy, is a romance that will inspire our family for generations. Already we desperately miss our beloved Pappy, Father, Husband, and Friend, but he left our spirits full and our minds enriched. Our hearts rejoice in knowing that Ron wrote a great story, and he chose us to star in it. Goodbye Ron, we all love you.

Services will be graveside at Mt. Comfort Cemetery, 3:00 PM today , April 11 ^th , followed by visitation and cupcakes, also at the cemetery.

If you wish, we invite you to donate to Hillcrest Media Department for the benefit of the Andy Cooper Memorial Fund at Hillcrest High School, attn: Tanya, 3319 N. Grant, Springfield, MO, 65803, in lieu of flowers.