Richard Dean Cooper

RETREAT NOT by Richard Cooper

It seems most of our lives are in Retreat out of fear

Of making it through the day and living another year.

Most of us do not venture forth to live

The way we actually feel.

We sit on the side lines,

And wonder what part of life is real.

Is life singing, dancing, laughing, racing, exploring

Or just sitting on the carousel?

These are all parts of living,

Go out and do them and try to do them well.

If you like to dance, then dance till your feet have sores.

If you like to sing, then sing till your voice is hoarse.

If you like to walk or run

Then go from morn till sun.

You will only get better at things you love to do,

And will enjoy living more than you ever knew.

If you like to sit on the sideline

And watch the world go by,

Then write songs or words of things you see,

To new heights you will fly.

As you practice things in life you embrace

A new sureness and happiness will show on your face.

Fear of living fully you will erase.

And on this world you will leave your trace.

If God spoke to you and said, “This is your last day”,

How would you spend it,

Would you make excuses to those you caused pain

Or would you feel they were to blame,

Could you face each one you’ve known.

Would you feel deep inside you’d done your best,

And would your heart finally be at REST.

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He was born on April 20, 1940 in Chickasha, OK. Richard was predeceased by his Grandparents, and his parents, Howard Cooper and Dixie Black-Cooper, and his brothers, Edward Cooper and Don Cooper, and his brother-in-law, Charles Blaine.

He is survived by his present wife, Linda McGuire-Cooper; and survived by the mother of his children, Margueritte Jeanie Guido; his son, Christopher Cooper and spouse, Lisa Merryman; his daughter, Katherine Whitacre and spouse, Jefferey Whitacre; and his daughter, Karen Hinkel and spouse, Ted Hinkel. He is survived by his sister Julie Blaine, and sister, Janice Pexton and spouse, Michael Pexton. He is survived by grandchildren, Grace Cooper, Tanner Hinkel, and Taylor Hinkel. He is survived by cousins, including Marvin Cooper, Vonda Osbourn, and nieces, and nephews, who loved him.

Richard spent his childhood in Chickasha, OK, where he reported he got to play with real American Indians, and mostly enjoyed regular adventures with his siblings of 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He shared stories of how he and his brother enjoyed fishing, camping, hiking, and later golfing together. He attended Capitol Hill High School in OK, and took up the sports of “wrestling” and golf.

His entrepreneurship and talent for business began at age 6, when he became a promising salesman by riding his bicycle to sell and deliver newspapers. During later school years he worked for an ice plant. Upon finishing high school at age 17, Richard joined the US Air Force, and was trained to be a Radar Technician, stationed in AK, later in NM, and then after in Lake Charles, LA.

It was in Lake Charles, LA, that Richard attended a Baptist Church with his buddies, and accepted the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and to follow the Christian Life through repentance and Baptism. It was there, he also met the first love of his life, Jeanie Guido, an opera singer, and they were married from 1960 - 1975, and raised 3 children together. Richard remained involved with the children's lives, especially helping them enjoy the usual father/children activities, according to pictures seen of them together. They have said that he taught them the importance of becoming productive members of society and staying active.

After leaving the Air Force, Richard attended SE Louisiana University, and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences. He spent 12 years working as a parole officer, wanting to help criminals get back on the right track, and he also dabbled in insurance. He later bought, owned, and operated his own Insurance Agency for 25 years. He was a very scrupulous businessman and always dealt fairly and kindly with everyone.

During Richard’s lifetime when he became a bachelor, he began writing poetry, and songs to deal with his being alone, some of which are so inspiring, they should be published. He took up dancing, and was always the life of every party, making everyone else feel good about themselves. He was truly a humble man, though his funny antics, uninhibited dancing behavior, jokes, caused him to usually be the center of attention. Most of this hilarious fun behavior was when he was totally “sober” as he did not like to drink alcohol. After he retired he did some traveling in an RV especially to the west coast to hang out with his brother, Don, and they went fishing a lot in CA.

Later Richard, around age 65, went back to OK and was employed by a Home Health agency, to do private sitting for disabled patients. He also helped take care of his mother who was over 95, but who had worked for years as a waitress in nightclubs, and she still enjoyed going out to enjoy the music and fun, so Richard took her. He also found out something so unique and enjoyable to his personality, and that is, Richard can sing. This ushered in his “Karaoke” life wherein he entertained the masses of people in clubs with the oldies, such as songs of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Louis Armstrong and many more. Richard also loved to dance, and he was known to offer a dance to every lady in the place, no matter her age, physique, or disability. He was truly a “ladies man”, spending his late years singing, dancing, and entertaining the ladies. He left everyone around him laughing and happy, being always the life of the party.

Richard later returned to LA, and took up selling automobiles with a friend of his. He reports having gone to the Mardi Gras events for 35 years, and usually wearing over his shorts, a grass skirt and coconut bra. Richard loved LA.

He would also dress up for Christmas as Santa Claus, and at Easter, as a Bunny Rabbit. Sometimes he would wear costumes for no special reason. He was an adorable flamboyant, uninhibited person, and had the knack of making people laugh out loud. He was known to “pole dance” or stick his leg out from behind a wall, swinging it, (of course fully clothed), which caused everyone to laugh.

Richard took up an artist hobby, of molding, and designing plastics, becoming a “plastician”. He created from nothing the items, such as sea horses, mermaids, shells, etc. One of his favorite creations was the “fleur de lis” symbol, which he used to share his Christian life by telling people what this means, being a symbol for the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. He also made tiny earrings and necklaces out of plastic, and offered them for purchases on the street, and at the market places. He mostly gave his plastic items away to the ladies to get a smile from them.

At age 78, in Sept, 2018, Richard moved to Rockport, TX to be close to his sister, Janice and brother-in-law, Mike, and he soon found his way into the Conviva Senior Center, where he began entertaining the elderly by his uninhibited dancing and singing. He soon became the weekly “Karaoke” DJ, swaying hearts to the oldies music.

In Jan., 2019, at the Conviva monthly dance, Richard met the “last” love of his life, Linda McGuire, who was instantly drawn to his acts of kindness of dancing with ‘all’ the ladies regardless of their age, height, weight, disability. Later that month, Richard agreed to attend a “fund raiser” event for her church to give her lady friends a chance to dance there. Then on Valentine’s Day, Richard asked Linda out for lunch, to which she said, “yes” not being sure if this was actually a date nor remembering what you're supposed to do in preparation, since she was a 75 y/o widow. When Richard showed up wearing a sports jacket, and carrying a tiny teddy bear with flowers, it was obvious that this was a “date” event. His family reports he has always been a “romantic”. Richard and Linda soon became the most enjoyable elderly couple one could imagine, and her family immediately accepted this interesting, fun loving character, and some called him, “King Richard”.

It was during their courtship in April 2019, that Linda, being a Nurse, suspected that Richard had cancer, like his brother Don had, and began helping him get diagnosed, treated, cared for by her at home, and by the VA for medical care. Richard, on the other hand, became Linda’s Security Guard, since he had been in law enforcement as a parole officer. Together this new elderly couple began enjoying visiting his family and hers, singing, dancing, traveling to see family, and hitting a few casinos. They especially enjoyed family “karaoke nite” with Janice and Mike, and anyone else who showed up at the house.

Richard and Linda were married on Feb.14, 2021, during the Covid Pandemic, & the Texas Freeze out, at their home in Rockport, united by Linda’s Chaplin friend, and in attendance were Richard’s sister, Janice, brother-in-law, Mike, and 3 other friends. The lights and water went off during the night, and they were taken into his family’s home the next day to ride out the freeze, but they remained happy, blessed newlyweds, determined this love could “weather” anything. Linda reports that Richard was the most loving, caring, sweet talking man ever known, and he brought so much romantic love, companionship, and safety to her life, telling her how beautiful she often looks. Yet when she told him how handsome he looks, he would respond saying: “Baby, I’m gonna get you some new glasses real soon!”

Richard was treated at VA Audie Murphy in San Antonio, TX, and was nursed by Linda for Stage IV Cancer treatments, including 12 rounds of IV Chemo, 10 Radiation treatments, major abdominal surgery, 4 hospitalizations for complications, and finally 6 weeks of hospice care. He lost his battle with cancer on April 16th, 2022.

Richard always prayed the most unselfish prayers over every meal, never asking much for himself. Mainly he gave thanks to God and prayed for others, like this:

“Dear Jesus, Thank you for letting me wake up on your beautiful earth; thank you for sending Jesus to die for our sins; thank you for this food, and may it help us do Your will. Help the rulers of the world do what is right for their people. Protect and help us get rid of the Coronavirus, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetNorthFuneralHome.com for the Cooper family.