Vernon Lee Cooper
Vernon Lee Cooper
Vernon Lee Cooper passed away at his home in West Plains, Missouri on April 28, 2020, at the age of 81.
He was born January 5, 1939 at a home on a farm near Humphreys, Missouri, to Harold D. Cooper and Dorothy Mae Phillips Cooper. He was married to Doris Fern Rinehart on December 30, 1959 in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Humphreys High School in 1957 and received an AA from Trenton Junior College in 1959 and received his BS in Social Studies from Kirksville State Teachers College (Truman State) in 1961; he later received his MA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Cooper began his teaching career in Monroe City, Missouri, teaching High School from 1961-68. The family moved to West Plains in 1968 where he began teaching at Southwest Missouri State-West Plains which became Missouri State University-West Plains. He enjoyed teaching “Supply & Demand” to many students during his 38 years at MSU-WP before he retired in 2006. Vernon grew up on a farm and his first paid job was as a farmhand. He put himself through college working as a farmhand after classes and during the summers. He enjoyed his own small farm near West Plains where he later would take his grandchildren and great-grandchildren for rides to count the cows. He was baptized at the Christian Church in Humphreys, Missouri and was currently a member of Smith Chapel in West Plains.
He is survived by his wife, Doris Cooper; three children, Kelli Cook and husband, Mark, West Plains, Vernon Kent Cooper, MD and wife, Janice, Branson, Missouri and Harold Kory Cooper, PhD and wife, Michele Buzon, PhD, West Lafayette, Indiana; six grandchildren, Whitney Frazier and husband, Kody, Hallie Eskew and husband, Matthew, Rebecca Cooper, DVM, Lt. George William Cooper, Lydia Cooper and Elliot Cooper; five great-grandchildren, Jaidyn and Karson Frazier and Rylie, Aliyah and Audrey Eskew; three sisters, Joan Stinnett, Lees Summit, Missouri, Karen DeVore, Warrensburg, Missouri and Mary Grothe and husband, Larry, Wheeling, Missouri; one brother, Roger Cooper, Humphreys, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Gerald Jennings, Gladstone, Missouri and Keith Rinehart, Brookefield, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Barbara Rinehart, Purdin, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents, one sister, Phyllis Forson, six brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law, preceded him in death.
A family graveside service will be held at a later date at the Haseville Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Three Rivers Hospice or Garnett Library-MSU and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Rachel Johnson
April 28, 2020 @ 2:24 pm
So sorry to hear about Mr. Cooper’s passing. I always enjoyed visiting with him and his lovely wife Doris. I had him for economics at SMSU back in 1986 or 87. He had quite a sense of humor. When I saw the notice of his death, the first thing I thought of, he is no longer in any pain. I know he suffered for years from back pain. Doris and family, you are in my prayers.
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:25 am
Thank you, we are thankful his pain is gone.
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
April 28, 2020 @ 2:58 pm
Mrs. Doris Cooper, Kelli and Mark Cook/Families, Kent and Janice Cooper/Families, and Kory and Michele/Family,
We want to express our deepest sympathy to all of you upon the passing of Vernon. You and your families will be in our daily prayers and thoughts. May God be with each of you daily thru this difficult time. May God bless all of you.
In Christian Love,
Tim, Amber(Cozort), and Corby Redburn
Norris and Ivene Cozort
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:26 am
Thank you Amber and family we appreciate your prayers.
Donna Barton Parrott
April 28, 2020 @ 5:18 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this time. When we moved into the house on Howell Avenue, you were our adjoining back neighbors. We were saying “Howdy neighbor” way before Tim Allen made it fashionable. Mr. Cooper also encouraged me to co-enroll at SMSU during my senior year at WPHS. I don’t know if I did him a favor though when I enrolled in both of his economic classes, but he was a great mentor to me. I will always remember him a man of integrity who dearly loved his family. May God hold each of you close and give you comfort as you remember the wonderful memories.
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:29 am
Thank you Donna for the memory, he did enjoy teaching.
Barbara Reinholdt
April 28, 2020 @ 8:47 pm
Doris and Family, you have our sincere sympathy. We are sending prayers your way for God’s peace. George and Barbara Reinholdt
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:29 am
Thank you for the prayers.
Sherri Cromer
April 29, 2020 @ 6:27 am
So sorry for you loss. Mr. Cooper was one of my favorite teachers, always so kind and willing to help if you didn’t understand something. My thoughts and prayers are with your family
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:32 am
Thank you Sherri for the kind words.
Hassel and Alice Vandergriff
April 29, 2020 @ 7:19 am
We were so sorry to learn of your loss; may God bless and keep you all.
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:32 am
Thank you
Barbara Alsup
April 29, 2020 @ 9:22 am
Doris and family:
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I pray God will grant each of you peace and comfort during this trying time.
Kelli
April 29, 2020 @ 11:33 am
Thank you
Jim Goss
April 29, 2020 @ 6:26 pm
Doris and family,
We both had classes under Mr. Cooper at SMS and loved his style and peraonality. We pray God will comfort all of you during this tough time. Love and prayers.
Jim and Patty
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:04 pm
Thank you both, he enjoyed teaching.
Susan York
April 29, 2020 @ 12:02 pm
Mrs. Cooper and Family,
Brad and I send our deepest sympathy. Mr. Cooper was a kind and funny man. When I was in his class at SMS, I never quite got the importance of “guns and butter”, but he certainly did try to impress upon me the importance of my studies – I think he may have even mentioned the importance of those grades showing up in my parents’ mailbox! He was a great man, and I am certain your lives are all rich and much blessed for the gift of having him as your husband, father, grandfather, …
Our prayers for peace and comfort follow.
Brad and Susan Shannon York
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:05 pm
Thank you
Vickie F Petkovic
April 29, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. I always loved Mr. Cooper, whom I first got acquainted with when I was in high school. Though not of unusual height, he was a kind, intelligent, giant of a man. He will be missed. May God bless and be with you all and grant him rest eternal.
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:06 pm
Thank you
Sarah Lushi
April 29, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
My deepest sympathies are with you for what he had to go through and for your loss. What an interesting life he lived! Hugs and prayers.
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:06 pm
Thank you Sarah
Baird
April 29, 2020 @ 2:44 pm
Dear Doris and family, Vernon was such a special person and always took time to visit and share life experiences whenever we ran into him. We are sad for you all and extend our deepest sympathy. Sincerely, Casus and Helen
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:07 pm
Thank you
Marietta Caldwell
April 29, 2020 @ 3:14 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time. Vernon was a kind, sweet man. He will be missed by many.
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:08 pm
Thank you
Frances Wahlquist
April 29, 2020 @ 5:05 pm
Frances Wahlquist
Doris and Family. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. May you find comfort in all the treasured memories of your loved one.
Kelli
April 30, 2020 @ 6:10 pm
Thank you
Carrie Cooper
April 29, 2020 @ 5:37 pm
Doris & family, Don & Frankie LaRue, Greg & Carrie Cooper & Debbie Kendrick would like to offer our sympathy. We all have fond memories of your family while in Monroe City. We will be praying for you all.
Kelli
May 2, 2020 @ 12:26 pm
Thank you
Donna conklin
April 29, 2020 @ 6:37 pm
Our deepest condolences on Uncle Vernon,s passing. He will be missed. Love Donna and Wayne Conklin
Kelli
May 2, 2020 @ 12:26 pm
Thank you
Rodney Hammond
April 30, 2020 @ 12:19 am
Mrs Doris Cooper and family, I’m praying for you during this difficult time of sorrow. I knew Mr Cooper as a very good teacher in college. Later in life while visiting with him it was very apparent how much he treasured his family and loved being husband, father and grandfather. I know each of you have cherished memories of him.
Kelli
May 2, 2020 @ 12:27 pm
Thank you
Vicky Brown
April 30, 2020 @ 10:49 am
Dear Doris, Kelli, Whitney, and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family at this difficult time!
I thought the world of Mr. Cooper!! He was a great teacher & so helpful to all of his students! He will be so missed!
God Bless each of you,
Vicky Richman Brown
Kelli
May 2, 2020 @ 12:28 pm
Thank you
Lindan Shann Caldwell
April 30, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
Mr. Cooper was one of my favorite teachers at SMSU, 1976-81. He always had a great sense of humor and made learning fun. He would tell us about the farm in the north where he and his brother were seeing if farming would pay off and he related those experiences to our class studies. Thank you, Mr. Cooper, you made a great impact on my life.
Kelli
May 2, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
Thank you
Terri Hall Brown
April 30, 2020 @ 2:25 pm
Mr Cooper was our teacher in Monroe City. A terrific teacher of Social Studies. Our prayers are with the family.
Bob Brown, MCHS 1967 & Terri Hall Brown, MCHS 2968.
Kelli
May 5, 2020 @ 9:06 am
Thank you
Mark Carr
April 30, 2020 @ 11:38 pm
I’m really sorry to have just found out about Vernon’s passing. I will always have fond memories of having all of you as neighbors when my parents and I lived on College Street when I was in elementary school and also the family get-togethers we used to have. I’ll also remember Vernon as a great teacher when I had him for an economics class in college. You really start to realize how short life is as you grow older.
Kelli
May 5, 2020 @ 9:07 am
Thank you Mark, we have fond memories of those days too.
Kelly York
May 1, 2020 @ 2:25 pm
Sorry to hear about your Dads passing. One of my favorite teachers. This is always a tough time. Kelly York and family
Kelli
May 7, 2020 @ 8:34 am
Thank you
Randall Lynn Roberson
May 3, 2020 @ 6:52 pm
It is obvious by these posts that Mr. Cooper touched a lot of people, including me. He was a great teacher. Always prepared. Always confident. And a smile that I can still see today. C+I=G y’all.
Kelli
May 7, 2020 @ 8:35 am
Thank you
Doug and Carla Boze
May 3, 2020 @ 8:33 pm
To a country boy just out of the Marine Corps and kind of rough around the edges, I attended SMSU-WP, taking Mr. Cooper’s Economics and Political Science classes. He taught “Supply and Demand” and “Guns and Butter” with his hilarious grin. His outgoing personality and willingness to visit between classes caused me to stop and think about all the things he taught. He always claimed to be matchmaker as I met my wife due to his seating policy which put us side by side. He was a true friend and we kept up with each other through the years. Vernon Cooper and SMSU will always have a special place in my heart.
Kelli
May 7, 2020 @ 8:55 am
Thank you
Tadd Henry
May 3, 2020 @ 8:36 pm
I am truly sorry. Vernon was a great guy in the classroom and on the farm. Here’s to homemade ice cream and western novels. Perhaps he and mom can rustle up a game of Nerts together!
Kelli
May 7, 2020 @ 8:33 am
Thank you, and yes, I’m sure the reunion is lively!
Melinda DeShazo Brenton
May 4, 2020 @ 2:38 am
I am just learning of Mr Cooper’s passing, and I wanted to offer my condolences to Mrs.Cooper and each of the family that are mourning the loss of your very precious loved one. It is never an easy time to loose a loved one but with the virus limiting the ability to gather together to day your goodbyes it just makes thing a little bit harder to bring to a close. I remember many moons ago that this great Man was one of my first college course teachers.And he made the class interesting,more than I can remember about some of the other classes. ?He is not gone far from you all ,and I know that Mrs. Cooper you will have so many stories shared with you you won’t be able to begin to remember them all. I hope someone will right them down in a little book for you to keep and read later when they snow is flying around and you are stuck indoors,again.Much love to you and the family.
Kelli
May 7, 2020 @ 8:55 am
Thank you
Paula and Buck Miller
May 4, 2020 @ 8:53 am
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I had the pleasure of having Mr Cooper in college then later enjoyed visiting him and Ms Cooper when they visited our restaurant, The River’s Edge in Thomasville. So many times in the last few months I have thought of him and would have loved to hear his opinion on the current economic status.
Kelli
May 7, 2020 @ 8:56 am
Thank you
Elizabeth Harrington
May 28, 2020 @ 11:33 am
I am so sorry for your lost! Great Uncle Vernon will be missed a lot. He will always be remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I love you and miss you all a lot.