Grady Wilson Cooper
Grady Wilson Cooper, 95, was a permanent resident of St. Cloud, Fla. He passed away at his Slippery Rock summer residence, Friday, following an extended illness.
Grady was born on Aug. 22, 1922 in Slippery Rock, to Harry Wilson Cooper and Marinda Julia (Wimer) Cooper. From the age of two he spent time living both in Slippery Rock and St. Cloud.
He married Helen Lois Magee on June 27, 1941 and she preceded him in death on Oct. 31, 1994.
Grady went to work for his father at the age of 14 at his father's company, H.W. Cooper, in Slippery Rock. While working full time he attended and graduated from Slippery Rock High School.
Grady served in World War II during combat as a member of the Merchant Marine, including serving on the USS Dobytown.
Following his military service, he returned to Slippery Rock and along with his brother, Glenn, he became part of H.W. Cooper and Sons. Together Grady and Glenn formed Cooper Brothers. Their company provided building supplies, produced concrete block, ready mix, and mined and brought to market aggregate materials as well as providing a host of other materials to supply construction needs in the greater community. He had the joy of providing employment to his son, Lilburn, his daughter, Renata and his two grandsons, Bob and Bart Jones.
Grady retired as Chairman of the Board of First National Bank of Slippery Rock where he had served for 39 years, 20 of them as chairman. He succeeded his father-in-law, Wendell Magee, as chairman.
He was the oldest living member of Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock and served as a trustee at Slippery Rock University after his appointment in 1980.
Grady was a member of various organizations, including being a charter, 50-year member and lifetime member of the Slippery Rock Lions Club; Grove City Lodge 603 F&AM; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of New Castle; Syria Shrine, of Pittsburgh; Elks Chapter 1873, of Kissimmee, Fla.; Kissimmee Moose Lodge 2056, Chapter 1849, of Kissimmee, Fla.; American Legion Post 88, of St. Cloud, Fla.; Stanley Snyder VFW Post 7465, of Volant; and he also attended monthly meetings of the Mariners in New Castle until recently.
He was a lifetime and oldest living member of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and along with his father was instrumental in building the original firehouse. He enjoyed traveling throughout his life and especially in his motor home with his wife, Helen, and then later after Helen's passing, with his companion, Mary Jane Snyder.
His signature was painting many things orange. At his company plant, many doors and other items were painted orange. He enjoyed secretly painting visitors (personal friends) tire caps orange when they visited his residence for them to discover his prank soon thereafter. Grady cared about people.
Survivors include son, Lilburn Bruce Cooper and wife, Phyllis Ann, of Slippery Rock; daughters, Karen L. Cooper, of St. Cloud, Fla.; Renata L. Hall, of Slippery Rock; companion, Mary Jane Snyder, of St. Cloud, Fla. and Slippery Rock; brother, Glenn E. (Ruth I.) Cooper, of St. Cloud, Fla. and Slippery Rock; six grandchildren, Bart Wilson (Stacie) Jones, of Black Mountain, N.C.; Dawn L. (Mike) Bastin, of Cabot, Kent L. (Shayne) Cooper, of Slippery Rock, Wendy A. Cooper, of Slippery Rock, Mitchell David Hall and Garrett Cooper Hall, both of Slippery Rock; seven great-grandchildren, Noelle L. (Aaron) Northrup, Bobbi Sue Jones, Jack Wilson Jones, Clayton Bart Jones, Brandon Bastin, Brooke Bastin and Zachary Cooper; two great-great grandchildren, Ava Noelle Northrup and Jones R. Northrup.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a grandson, Robert J. “Bob” Jones; and great-grandson, Corey R. Jones.
COOPER — Family of Grady Wilson Cooper who died Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m., Wednesday, at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St. Slippery Rock. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., with Chaplain Keith Black, presiding.Interment will be at Slippery Rock Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be given to the Slippery Rock Fire and Rescue Squad, 162 Elm St., Slippery Rock, PA 16057 toward the new construction costs or to Vitas Hospice 2009 Mackenzie Way Unit 400, Cranberry Township, Pa., 16066.
