Darrell D. Cooper, 86, known to many as “Papa”, passed away peacefully in Lander, Wy, at Westward Heights on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Please join the family in celebrating his life and share with us a story or two on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at the Lighthouse Bible Church at 1:00 p.m. Fellowship meal to follow.
Darrell was born October 14, 1937, to Essie Maggie and William Jennings Bryan Cooper in Torrington, WY. He was the youngest child of five and moved to Pavillion with his family to homestead around the age of 2. After graduating from Pavillion High School in 1955, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957. He traveled with the Air Force, eventually stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, Ca. for the remainder of his enlistment.
In Northern California, he met the women with whom he would spend the next 41 years with. On May 12, 1973, he married his soul mate, Marilyn Mohr. Together in the Bay Area, they began to raise their four children. Darrell worked for Golden Gate Bridge District as a bus driver for 40 years. After driving through San Francisco during the 1989 earthquake, he convinced Marilyn that they should pack up the family and move back toward his hometown in Fremont County, Wyoming.
Darrell was an avid SF Giants and SF 49ers fan but would watch any baseball or football game on TV. He cherished watching his sons, and then his grandchildren play baseball at the Riverton Little League and Babe Ruth fields.
Darrell was a believer in Jesus Christ and found a church home at Lighthouse Bible Church, where he and Marilyn were close friends with Pastor Dale and his wife, Allison Adams. After losing Marilyn in 2014, he continued to attend church as often as he could.
He spent the last decade of his life with his children and grandchildren out at his “ranch” by Ocean Lake, where he lived with his pet fish. At home, gardening, raising chickens, and bird watching were his pastimes. He also enjoyed writing cards and letters to family and always had a crossword puzzle nearby. He adored fishing and being next to water with a fishing pole in hand whenever he could. He loved to take a ride and listen to country music in the car. Darrell was a rascal known for his easy laugh and quick-witted jokes. He never met a stranger and was a friend to all.
Darrell is survived by his daughters, Kim-Kathleen (Charles) Heidenreich, Carrie (Rick) Moore, and son, Noel (Dani) Cooper. He leaves behind seven grandchildren: Jezebel (Lance) Rubis, Lordae Heidenreich, Slade Heidenreich, Andrew (Talianna) Moore, Kyrsten Moore, Gabriel Cooper, and Zaiden Cooper. In addition, he was a proud great-grandfather to Jameson Moore.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Cooper; his son Darrell Cooper II; his parents, Essie and William Cooper; brothers, Melvin Cooper and Dale Cooper; and sisters, Nadine Newberry and Iris Bartlett.
On-line condolences may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments.