James A. "Jim" Cooper, 56, of Decatur, died at 3:56 a.m. Tuesday (February 8, 2005) in St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur, Illinois
Funeral services will be 10 a.m.
Saturday (Feb. 12, 2005) at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m. Friday with Masonic Services by
Ionic Lodge #1312 AF & AM at 8 p.m. Burial will be in Lake
Bank Cemetery in Latham, IL. Military rites will be accorded by his
American Legion Post #447 of Mt. Pulaski, IL.
Memorials can be made to the Illinois Nurses Scholarship Foundation,
2207 Sunset Drive, Pekin, IL 61554-5364, c/o Dick Carroll.
Jim was
born on April 13, 1948, in Decatur, IL, the son of Thomas and Mary
(Williams) Cooper. He graduated from Stephen Decatur High
School in 1966 and Millikin University (B.M.-Ed.) in 1970. He
married Linda Diesing Cooper on June 6, 1970, in St. Louis, MO at
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Jim worked for Norfolk and
Southern Railroad for 32 years as a Locomotive Engineer but was on
disability for the last year.
Mr.
Cooper was raised in Ionic Lodge #312, AF&AM, on October 20,
1970, where he served as Worshipful Master three times. Member
of Macon Chapter #21, RAM (Past Hight Priest); Decatur Council #16,
CM (Past Thrice Illustrious Master); Beaumanoir Commandery #9, KT
(Past Emminent Commander); dual member of the Clinton YOrk Rite
bodies; elected as Right Illustrious Grand Principal Conductor of
the Work of Cryptic Masons of the state of Illinois. Holder of
the Knights of York Cross of Honor; the DeMolay Croiss of Honor;
Grand Master's Leadership Award & the Red Branch of ERie.
Member of the Holy Royal Arch, Knight Templar Priests; National
Sojourners; Heroes of'76; Alied Masonic Degrees, York Rite College
#42; Royal Order of Scotland; Yeoman of York; Springfield Valley of
Scottish Rite; Ansar Shrine; Decatur Shrine Club, Decatur Chapter
#111, OES; former Assistant Chapter Dad of Jerome R. Gorin Chapter,
Order of DeMolay; member of Honor of Bethel #49, Job's Daughters.
He had also served as a Director and Secretary/Treasurer of Farmers'
Grain of Latham.
Surviving are his wife, Linda; son, Robert Thomas (Bob) Cooper;
daughter, Barbara Jane (Barb) Cooper; mother-in-law, Mary Diesing of
Decatur.
He was
preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law.
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