Dale Ivan Cooper

Dale I. Cooper was born October 27, 1942, a Shannon County resident.  The son of Ray  and Pearl (Willis) Cooper.  Dale departed this life at his home in Hartshorn, Missouri on March 30, 2025 making his age 82 years, 5 months and 3 days.

Dale was a proud U.S. Navy Veteran.  He was an aviation mechanic on the F-8 Crusader fighter plane.  Dale was deployed three times to the South Pacific, Middle East and Asia aboard the USS Ranger CVA-61.  Dale visited nine different countries and crossed the equator.

After military service, he joined the Hoisting Engineers Union Local 513, Bridgeton, Missouri and became a Crane Operator.  Dale had a good reputation for being a reliable, safe and excellent steel setter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Sonny Ray Cooper and Floyd Cooper.

Dale is survived by one sister, Velma Cooper Ireland; a son, Mark Cooper Sr.; a daughter, Michelle Cooper; a grandson, Mark Cooper Jr.; a granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Stotlemeyer; and his long-time friend and caretaker, Cheryl Collins.