Utah Calvin Cooper Sr

Utah Calvin "Mutt" Cooper, Sr. was born on June 21, 1924 in rural Arkansas and grew up in an area called Promise Land. He graduated from McCormick High School with honors in baseball and basketball.

On June 4, 1943 he married Anna Varie Terry. Mutt served in the United States Army during World War II as an Ammunition Corporal overseas with the 6th Division in New Guinea, Luzon, the Philippines and Korea as a cannoneer on a 155mm Howitzer gun crew. He would jokingly say that he felt it was his job to "straighten out a few lieutenants".

After returning home from the war, he met his baby daughter for the first time. He settled in to the family home with Anna and added another baby girl. The family of four moved to Monette, Arkansas where Mutt helped his mother and father run their family owned grocery store. He continued to enjoy playing basketball and baseball as a young man and developed a love for hunting and fishing as well. In April of 1954 Mutt and Anna bought a farm in Bono, Arkansas. It was there he taught his two daughters about farming and of course duck hunting, fishing and rabbit hunting. They even learned about frog gigging at night, but didn't enjoy that sport too much because of their fear that a snake would somehow manage to find its way into the boat.

In 1955 a son was born and Mutt was so proud. One day, the girls decided to dress their little brother up like a girl and he looked so pretty and Mutt decided that very day to cut off all of his hair. While there was no mistaking him for a boy from that point on, Anna cried at the loss of her son's long curly hair.

The family moved again in 1957, this time to Trumann, Arkansas. Mutt became a very prominent farmer and community figure there. In 1962, another baby girl came into the family. The Cooper's became member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann and Mutt was a member of the Trumann Jaycees, The National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited. Hunting became a passion of his and he hunted and fished all the way from the Gulf of Mexico up into Alaska.

Anna passed away in 1999 and Mutt retired and moved to Texas where he lived out the remainder of his days. Utah Calvin "Mutt" Cooper, Sr. was called home to be with the Lord on June 6, 2011 in Irving, Texas.

He is survived by his children Carolyn Kelly and her husband Michael, Frankie Raney and her husband Ed, Utah Calvin Cooper, Jr. and Tracie Cooper, grandchildren Erica Prihoda, Stephanie Raney, Paige Leija, Cody Collier, Jessica Brantley and Utah Calvin Cooper, III, 6 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 9, 2011 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options in Plano, Texas.

A family visitation will also be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 12:00 to 1:30 at Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann, Arkansas with a funeral service to follow. Mr. Cooper will be laid to rest at Jonesboro Memorial Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

He loved his family dearly and they loved him back with all their heart. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

If desired, family requests contributions be made in Utah's name to be used for the 2012 African Missions, Carroll Baptist Church, 1280 E Highland, Southlake, Texas 76092.