John E. “Jack” Cooper

John E. “Jack” Cooper 87, passed away on April 25, 2025, at home. Jack was born November 22, 1937, in Houston, TX, and grew up in the West End attending George Washington Junior High School. In 1952 he moved with his family to Texas City, where he graduated from Texas City High School in 1956. He graduated from The Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas (later known as Texas A&M University) in the Class of 1960 and received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served two years on active duty and 26 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

When he got off active duty, he worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau in Antarctica for six months and then traveled throughout the Far East. He spent 28 years in the criminal justice system working as a Texas State Parole Officer and later as a United States Probation Officer in Houston and Galveston. After retiring from U.S. Probation in 1992, he worked as an investigator for the State Bar of Texas and retired again in 2003. In his later years he worked as a Special Investigator for the FBI, conducting background investigations.

Jack was President of the Texas City Jaycees in 1971 and helped start the first Special Olympics in Texas City. He served as Chairman on the Texas City Housing Authority for ten years and was the first President and Founding Director of Gulf Coast Big Brothers-Big Sisters. He was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Texas City and served on most committees, taught Sunday School, and sang in the Chancel Choir.

During his life he was a world traveler. He traveled to 30 countries and visited all the states in the U.S. except one; North Dakota is the only state he did not visit, as he said, “It’s usually too cold there anyhow.” In the last 15+ years of his life he traveled throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arizona, and Florida watching his grandson, he so dearly loved, play baseball.

Jack had a favorite poem “Around the Corner” that talked about keeping up with friends. If he had not heard from you in a while he would call, text, or email. He had lunch with his TCHS classmates once a month. He and Liz had a group of friends that met once a month, and in recent years a group of men known as the Ecumenical Breakfast, had breakfast every Tuesday. Jack never wanted to miss any of these activities. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis C. Cooper, and Juanita “Sally” Cooper. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth R. Cooper; sons, Andrew F. Cooper and fiancé Denise, and John David Cooper; and grandson Korey John Cooper. He is also survived by his brother Jerry C. Cooper and wife Carole of College Station, TX, and his sister Linda Gayle Cooper Holm and husband Ralph of Bryan, TX, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Always remember, as Jack would say, “People have more fun than anybody” and “Glad you got to see me.”

Visitation will be Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., with a funeral service Friday June 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Emken-Linton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F Lowry Expressway, Texas City, Texas. Following the funeral service, there will be a burial service at 2:15 p.m., at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038.

Honorary pallbearers will include Ralph Holm, Charlie Bergvall, Jim Jakubik, Jim Robinson, Henry Phillips, and Ben Hargrove.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in the form of donations may be made in Jack’s honor, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the charity or your choice.