Slim's Obituary and Posting from Ryan

James (Slim) Albert Cooper 1941 ~ 2011 Our beloved husband, father,
grandfather and friend to all who knew him passed away on Feb. 14, 2011 due to
complications following bypass surgery.

Jim was born on Jan. 7, 1941 to Lola Vernell Draper and Albert Vivian Cooper in
Genola, Utah. He was the seventh of eleven children, six of whom survive him.
He graduated from Payson High School, after which he served an LDS mission to
the East Central States Mission. He married Judy Penrod in the Manti Temple on
6 Sept. 1963. Jim spent his life touching the lives of many people over the
course of his 33 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and administrator
with the Murray School District. In retirement Jim found joy in serving
others, and was often found knee-deep in a remodeling project somewhere. A man
who spurned attention and limelight, he most-often served in quiet and often
unknown ways, and was an example of Christ-like service. He will be loved and
missed by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Judy; four children, Jaren (Angie), Dori (Luis)
Ribeiro, Ryan, and Braden (Angie); and seven grandchildren; Kyleigh, Emma,
Hannah, Brie, Daniel, Kate and Taylor. A viewing will be held on Sat. Feb 19
from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Stake Center located on 6180 So. Glenoaks
Street (855 East). Following the viewing, family and friends may join us at a
graveside service at the Murray City Cemetery (5490 So. Vine Street).

Please no flowers. If you would like to make a donation in his name please
consider the Kennecott Nature Center in Murray via Murray School District or
the LDS Humanitarian Fund.

 

Thanks.

Of all the trips I have made home from abroad, this was by far the longest and most difficult journey I have made, knowing what awaited once I landed.  Until I actually landed, I could still pretend that Slim would be there to pick me up at the airport as he has every time I have visited all these years I have been away.  One of the few constants in my life has been that Slim will pick me up at the airport, and we will probably have a project to do together once we got home.  We always thought ourselves handy, and believed we could give Bob Villa and Norm Abrams a run for their money.  We will never get the chance to find out now…lucky for them!   

I know that many of you have spoken with Jaren, Dori and/or Braden over the course of the past several weeks and have expressed your support and shared your thoughts.  I wanted to take this occasion to share the gratitude I feel in my heart for the love and support, and for each and every one of your prayers.  I know, having had to deal with much of this from abroad, that all of it has helped immensely, and our family is stronger today because of it.   We know the impact Slim has had in our lives, but it has been uplifting to hear of the impact he has had in the lives of others.  He really did not like any kind of limelight or attention, preferring instead to quietly serve where he could.  His request for a simple graveside service is a reflection of this; he always believed life should be celebrated while living.

My thanks and gratitude go out to each of you.  The world, or at least our little corner of it, is a better place because he has been in our lives.

Ryan