Narvel Eugene “Gene” Cooper, 94, of Crystal City died Jan. 27, 2023, at his home. Mr. Cooper was retired from Pittsburgh Plate Glass in Crystal City and River Cement (now Buzzi Unicem) in Festus. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Festus/Crystal City and a member of the Shekinah Masonic Lodge in Crystal City. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, listening to music and spending time with his family and friends. Born May 10, 1928, in Sylvester, Texas, he was the son of the late Lottie (Phillips) and John Oliver Cooper. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Rebecca (Park) Cooper.
He is survived by two sons: Michael (Yvonne) Cooper of Crystal City and Bruce (Zoe Ann) Cooper of Festus; a daughter: Dana (Mark) Templeton; a “special child of his heart,” Bobbi (Larry) Crawford of Fenton; sister: Evelyn (the late Ken) Nolen-Sweeney of Hobbs, N.M.; six grandchildren: Toni Cooper, Sonya (fiancé Tyler Edwards) Cooper, Jessica (Adam) Feltes, Amanda (Charles) Templeton-Escamilla, Kayla Elizabeth Crawford and Colleen Janae Crawford; and five great-grandchildren: Chloe Skaggs, Tristan Jackson, Atticus Feltes, Lyla Cooper and Kyrian Jackson.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter: Carla Ann Cooper; four grandchildren: Travis Michael Cooper, Brandon Rutledge Templeton, Kasey Ann Boyer and McKenna Marie Templeton; four sisters; and four brothers.
Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until a funeral service at noon Saturday, Feb. 4, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main, in Festus, officiated by Pastor Justin Metiva. Burial is in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Mercy Jefferson Hospice or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Gateway Chapter. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.