Rickey Harold Cooper moved to his heavenly home July 21, 2022 after a two year, hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 69. Cancer was only a chapter in his life; not his whole story.
He was born April 25, 1953, the youngest of seven children to Loyd & Erma (Friend) Cooper in Gainesville, MO. He was brought home to live his entire life in Thornfield, MO, with the exception of a few months when he worked at Lowe boat factory in Lebanon, MO and lived with his sister Imogene and her family.
Harold attended Thornfield Elementary and Gainesville High School, graduating with the class of ’71. He started working at a young age, tinkering with lawn mowers, bicycles, and hauling hay for the neighbors. After graduation he worked various jobs-hauling concrete and feed and construction.
In 1976 he started working for Jerel Anderson Well Drilling, which would become his passion for the next 46 years. In July 1979 he along with his fiancé Pam Frost purchased the business from Velma Anderson after Jerel’s passing. In 1979, Cooper Drilling was established.
A month later on August 4, 1979 Harold and Pam were married at Noble General Baptist Church by Joe Gaddy. They built their home and raised their family on the beloved land he was raised on.
When Harold wasn’t standing behind the ole’ drillin’ rig you could find him in his shop twisting a bolt, piddling with a project (he always had a project) with the radio cranked up to old country music and his favorite-Alan Jackson gospel CD.
He was very proud to be a part of the well drilling industry and was able to raise his family doing a job that was his passion. He often referred to it as making “a cornbread living”.
When Harold wasn’t working, he enjoyed deer hunting, getting together with his sisters & brother, and neighbors playing his guitar & mandolin, singing, stock car racing, and taking an occasional trip to Downstream. Harold never met a stranger and would visit with everybody. Everything he did he was always laughing & joking and enjoying himself. His biggest enjoyment was when the kids and grandkids came home.
He served 15 years on the Thornfield School Board. He was a member of both Missouri & Arkansas Water Well Associations.
In addition to his parents, Harold was preceded in death by two sisters and their spouses Mona & Baxter Foster, and Norma and Bob Steele; father-in-law Merle Frost; nephew Steve Foster and niece Renee Miller.
Harold is survived by his wife & best friend Pam of 43 years; daughters & sons-in-law Vanae & Bubba Emerick, Vanessa & Brad Stefka, and son & daughter-in-law Rick & Haley Cooper; his sisters & brothers-in-law Pauline & Tom Adkisson, Imogene & Gene Pierce; and Sue & Dwain Murphy; and brother & sister-in-law Darrell & Barbara Cooper; his mother-in-law Georgia Frost; and his sisters-in-law Rhonda & Jack Strong, and Tina & Rick Allen; last but not least many nieces and nephews.
He is “Pa” to six wonderful grandchildren that were very dear to his heart: Adalyn Emerick, Judson & Violet Stefka, and Jackson, Brody, & Kinsley Cooper.
Harold leaves a legacy to his kids & grandkids of honesty, a hard work ethic, and a beautiful optimistic outlook on life and death. He had a funny sense of humor and smile that will never be forgotten.
He was saved and baptized as a teenager and shared his beliefs & relationship with God toward the end of his life. He went peacefully in his sleep with his loving family by is side. Although our hearts are broken we have many wonderful memories that always will keep us smiling.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2022 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel, Gainesville, MO. Visitation will be Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to service time.
A private family burial will be held at a later date in the fall at Thornfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Thornfield School for school supplies, Christmas presents, book fair & playground equipment. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.
