George E. Cooper

George, age 99, of East Lansing, Michigan, passed away October 5, 2015. He died in the dark of the night as he wished in the presence of His Father in Heaven. He was born in Stanton, Michigan, February 14, 1916 (a valentine).

George was a staunch Methodist and began his religious journey at an old country church started by a traveling minister in 1925 in Vestaburg, Michigan. A farm boy working for his keep! Recently he enjoyed many Sundays at the Methodist church in Midland, Michigan.

His military experience was short; honorably discharged on December 12, 1945, from the Air Force at Chanute Field, Illinois.

He was an officer in several corporate enterprises and retired with reasonable success!

He married Billie Grace Kissee at The Peoples Church in East Lansing on January 18, 1974. They were also business partners. They traveled the world from 1974 through 1989; circumnavigated the globe 4/28/78 to 5/29/78. Billie passed away October 27, 2001, in Naples, Florida. His wish was to be cremated with his remains placed alongside Billie in Deepdale Memorial Gardens, Lansing, Michigan.

George leaves the family he loved: daughter and son-in-law, Tonnie and John Temple; grandson, Sean E. Temple; granddaughter, Tonnie (Temple) Creath and husband Andy; great-grandchildren, Callie, Alexa and Cole; three sons, George, Tomm and Jim Cooper of Traverse City; cousins, Nichols Cooper of Saginaw, Jay Cooper of Merrill and Jim Cooper of Sanford; nieces, Lucinda Hyatt and Danette (Hyatt) Zieroff of Sanford; and many friends in Florida (he loved Florida), Midland and Bay City, Michigan. He was preceded in death by grandson Christopher Temple.

Per his wish, no service will be held.

“If you are my friends please mention my name in your prayers in your home or at church, I will know as you will! Don’t call me as I do not answer the phone as you know. I am looking forward to meeting my wife Billie and my brother Harold. ‘Keep it out of the ditch,’ I love you all. Geo.”