Phillip Ray "Phil" Cooper Sr
Jan 21, 1940 - Jan 8, 2022
Posted by Jo Aguirre

DAVIS FAMILY FUNERAL HOME
DEWEY, WASHINGTON CO, OK
(permission granted)

Phillip “Phil” Ray Cooper, Sr., of Bartlesville went to live with Jesus on Saturday, January 8, 2022, in Dewey, OK.

Phil was born the son of Herbert Lee and Clara (Potts) Cooper on January 21, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Phil’s family moved to Indiana when he was very young where they lived for several years before moving back to Ohio. He left home and school at the young age of 15, working various jobs including shoe sales, shoe manufacturing and as a caddy at local golf clubs. Caddying sparked his lifelong love for the game. Phil met Alice Ayers at her parents’ home in Cincinnati while visiting one of her siblings with a friend. He began attending the North Fairmount Pilgrim Holiness church with the Ayers siblings and became a part of the youth group. During this time Phil became a Christian. He and Alice began dating in 1961 and were married on March 10,1962. He enrolled in Hughes Evening High School, graduating in 1964. In that same year he received a call to the ministry and the family moved to Springfield, MO. There he worked with his friend, Wayne Lyon, pastor of the Springfield Pilgrim Church. In addition, he attended Southwest Missouri State College. Vocationally, Phil worked in insurance and finance. In 1967 he was transferred to St. Louis and attended The St. Louis Pilgrim Church. He frequently traveled to Hannibal, MO, to fill the pulpit and took correspondence courses for pastoral ministry. In 1973, with a district pastoral license, Phil began full time ministry in southwest Missouri. He pastored The Whittenburg Wesleyan Church until 1978. He then pastored the Wesleyan Church in Hannibal, MO from 1978-1981. He continued his ministerial studies at Hannibal LaGrange College. He also one year as the minister for a local Mennonite Church. Phil greatly enjoyed his ministry to both congregations. In 1981 the family moved to Bartlesville where Phil and his daughter, Mary, enrolled at Bartlesville Wesleyan College. Phil completed his bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry in 1986. He worked locally for First Wesleyan Church as the maintenance director while attending college. Upon graduation Phil served as interim pastor at the Ramona Friends Church from 1986-88. In recent years Phil held Sunday afternoon services once a month at Green Country Assisted Living. He worked at Winslow and Met Life Insurance companies, Voice of the Martyrs, and as a contractor for Research Triangle Institute. Phil loved the Lord and was active in the ministries of the church. He enjoyed music and sang in choirs and quartets wherever he lived. He and Alice often sang duets for church and other events. Phil never met a stranger and he loved to laugh and tell jokes. He will be greatly missed.

Phil is survived by his loving wife, Alice, of 60 years, three children, Mary Alice (Mike) McCombs, Phil (Ela) Cooper Jr., and Rich (Leticia)Cooper; siblings Sandra Nevergall, Reita Hornbeck, Paul Cooper and Darrell Cooper. Seven grandchildren, Joshua Cole, Madison Cole, Raelle (Wallace) Cole, Shelby Cooper, Zoe (Brent) Kehrle, Alycia Perez and Anaya Cooper; and great grandchildren Jayden and Nada Kehrle.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Roger Cooper and sister Carol Gillenwater.

Phil’s family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel, 918-333-7665, 4201 Nowata Rd, Bartlesville, on Thursday, from 5-7 pm.

Visitation will also be held on Thursday from 10 am-8 pm. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Pre-born at preborn.org or to Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held 10 am. on Friday, at First Wesleyan Church, with Pastor Joe Colaw officiating.

Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel.

Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
 

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