Calvin Cooper

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

Mr. Calvin G. Cooper, 90, of the Plummers Mill Community in Fleming County, passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2011 in the St. Claire Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.

He was born on January 26, 1921 in Fleming County, Kentucky, a son of the late John and Iva Newman Cooper.

Mr. Cooper was a retired safety inspector with the Kentucky Department of Transportation after 21 years and a well known Folk Artist whose art is displayed in museums and homes across the United States and some Foreign Countries.

He was a United States Army Veteran having served during World War II and earning the American Theater Ribbon, EAME Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. During 1944 and 1945, Mr. Cooper served with General George Patton's 3rd Army, racing across Europe, rolling to the rescue of the 101st Airborne in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and later liberating a Nazi concentration camp.

Mr. Cooper had always had some kind of woodworking in his life, having helped his Dad make a swing and a settee from willows when he was around 10 years old; but after his retirement, he took up woodworking in a more serious fashion. His rooster form quickly evolved to what became his signature piece. Other subjects he made include: Uncle Sam, Abe Lincoln, Farmer and his wife, dogs, Preacher Man, snakes and another signature piece the "Chicken Man". His love of the woods and nature gave him the inspiration to find the right branch to make the character he imagined.

Mr. Cooper was a member of the Crain Creek Christian Church, Fleming Lodge No. 112 and the Folk Art Center. He was a Kentucky Colonel, served on the Newman Cemetery Board and enjoyed gardening, woodworking and Folk Art.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Naomi Cox Cooper and his second wife, Reba Fouch Cooper.

In addition to his parents and his wives, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Wanda Cooper, two brothers, George Cooper and Clifford Cooper and six sisters, Effie Hurst, Emma Smith, Ruth Muse, Sylvia Tackett, Naomi Harris and Jennie Butcher.

Survivors include two sons, Darry W. (Bonnie) Cooper of Hillsboro, Barry (Vicki) Cooper of Bedford, Indiana, one daughter, Gail (Eddie) Ward of Wallingford, one step-son, Gary (Priscilla) Fouch of Morehead, one step-daughter, Tammy Fouch Stone of Morehead, one brother, Ronald (Jessie) Cooper of Flemingsburg, one sister, Oleta Stanfield of Flemingsburg, two grandchildren, Cyndi (Brent) Fields and Brad (Ashley) Ward, three great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Fields, Madison Fields and Justin Fields and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, May 21, 2011 in the chapel of the Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home with Rev. Clifford Muse and Rev. Jerry McRoberts officiating with remarks and remembrances offered by Brad Ward and Adrian Swain.

Burial with full military honors conducted by the Morehead American Legion Post No. 126 will be in the Newman Cemetery.

Visitation is after 5:00 P.M. Friday.

Pallbearers will be Lowell Tackett, Richard Harris, Phillip Harris, David Butcher, Charles Hurst, Calvin Thomas Muse, Tim Cooper and Gary Cooper and honorary pallbearers will be Bob Weaver, Harvey Cooper, Bill Weaver and Vernon Lewis.

Contributions are suggested to the Crain Creek Christian Church or Newman Cemetery.