Obituary of James Denver Cooper
James Denver Cooper was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 4, 1942. He was the youngest of three children born from the union of Gilbert Andrew Cooper and Mary Evelyn (Bookout) Cooper. He grew up in Warren and graduated in 1960 from Lincoln High School. He would later attend Lawrence Technological Institute.
James married the former Patricia Marie Sutton on February 21, 1976 at Christ Episcopal Church in Dearborn. The couple would be blessed with the birth of one son. They would move back to Detroit to his parent’s home. Jim was active in his church, St. Michael Episcopal Church in Detroit serving as an acolyte for many years. He was also a proud member of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge 553 in St. Clair Shores.
Jim was very gifted working with his hands. He was a woodworker and a carpenter by trade. He supported his family with employment for the City of Detroit. He was a member of the Carpenters Local 687 in Detroit.
Jim enjoyed being outside and he was an avid hunter and fisher. He also enjoyed playing games of chance. He indeed often looked forward to lively games of Poker, and regularly played the lottery. Jim’s lottery picks were quite quirky since he had a specific method about the numbers he selected.
James Denver Cooper, age 77, of Detroit passed away on Monday, February 24, 2020 at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit. His passing was preceded by his father in 1984 and his mother in 1996.
To cherish his memory James leaves a son: Patrick (Rachel) Cooper of Dearborn; two sisters: Thelma (Richard) Lippert of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mary Louise (Basil) Considine of Bloomfield Hills; five grandchildren: P.J. Markham of Dearborn, Alex Cooper of Rogers City, Storm, Easton, and Kynzee Cooper all of Dearborn; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may gather from 1:00pm until 4:00pm on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185. Members of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge will hold a service at 4:00pm at Merkle’s followed by a Celebration of His Life. Private inurnment will take place at Albert Township Main Cemetery in Lewiston, Michigan at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Shriners Hospital. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.