Thomas E. Cooper

Thomas Elmer " Terrapin" Cooper, 79, quit his walk with man and entered his heavenly home on August 5, 2011. He was born June 16, 1932 in Sasakwa,Oklahoma to Robert Earl and Vinita (Sanders) Cooper. He proudly served in the 45th Infantry Company B 180th Infantry of the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He received the Korean Service Medal with 1 bronze star, United States Service Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on February 5, 1953. Tom married his " Little Bride" Alice Ruth (Snodgrass) Cooper on June 26, 1961 in Ada, Oklahoma. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Tom was blessed with five children, ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren and one more on the way. He owned and operated St. Louis Welding Shop; worked several years in the family owned Sanders Laboratory; was a founding partner of TS&H Shirt Company and part-owner of JB Drilling Company of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Tom was known mostly by friends and family for his diligent work in the Lord's Church. He was very generous and never too busy to help someone in need. His prayer was and is to "Help us to live peaceably with Thee and as near as possible with all mankind." He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bill and Baldy Cooper; one sister, Modell Brock; one son, Thomas Elmer " Tommy " Cooper, Jr. in 1980 and one daughter by his first marriage, Sherri (Cooper) Johnson in 2010. Tom is survived by his loving wife of the home; one sson, Robert Quincy " Bobby" Cooper of the home; two daughters & sons-in-law, Nita and Larry Sneed of Seminole and Lorrie and Tom Bailey of Seminole;one son-in-law, Burt Johnson of Hutto, Texas; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Celestine and Red Barnes of Asher, Oklahoma, Donna and Jimmy Newell of Jefferson, Texas and Jenean Cooper of Florida; ten grandchildren, Kara and her husband, Matthew Bryant, Kristin Sneed, Karlie Sneed, Rheanna and her husband, Umair Ali, Landon Glass, Rhiason Glass, Leah Glass, Melanie and her husband, Joe Leopold, Darrin and his wife, Deanna Johnson, Shanna and her husband Jay Rhoads, four great-grandchildren, Laurel, Jacob, Bryce and Zoe. He was also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and other family members and friends. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel with Terry Newell and Ray Newell officiating. Interment will follow at Avoca Cemetery South of Tecumseh on Hwy 177. Casket Bearers will be Landon Glass, Rhiason Glass, Darrin Johnson, Tom Bailey, Larry Sneed and Mike Qualls. Funeral Information: August 9, 2011, 10:00 AM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave., Seminole, OK 74868