James W. (“Tommy”) Cooper, 88, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock after a period of declining health. He was the son of Medford J. Cooper and Junivee Redden Cooper. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lorene Gossett, and a brother, Medford J. Cooper, Jr.
Tommy was raised in the Valley Hill Community and attended Flat Rock High School. From 1947-1949, he served in the US Navy. Tommy was co-founder of Industrial Maintenance Overflow, (I-MO-CO), in 1964 and served as President. In 1967, he founded Cooper Construction Company, a 50-year-old and third generation general contracting firm, and he retired in 1980 at the age of 57.
Upon his retirement in Sebring, Florida, Tommy became an avid bass fisherman. A lifetime houndsman and bear hunter, he traveled throughout the US and Ontario enjoying his sport. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville for over 40 years and a member of the Jimmy Cobb Sunday School class.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Laura Roberts Cooper; their sons, Tom and wife, Marie, Jeff and wife, Lynn, and Mike and wife, Pam Cooper, all of Hendersonville; grandchildren, Brad, Zach, Lane and Greg Cooper, Kelly Ford, Krystal Horan, Marci Raniszeski and Kerra Johnson; sisters, Sybil Kimbrell, Ruth Shepherd, Naomi Hollifield and Sandra Rubin; twelve great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Hendersonville First Baptist Church. The Reverends Brad Cooper and Steve Scoggins will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:15 am at the church. Burial will follow the service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
Service
11:30 AM
First Baptist Church of Hendersonville - Directions
312 5th Avenue West
Hendersonville, NC 28739
Burial
1:00 PM
Forest Lawn Memorial Park & Mausoleum - Directions
538 Tracy Grove Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Visitation
10:00 AM - 10:00 AM
First Baptist Church of Hendersonville - Directions
312 5th Avenue West
Hendersonville, NC 28739
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