Robert Charles "Bob" Cooper died on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. He was 64.
Bob was born on March 25, 1950 to Bernerd Mack and Alma Chrysella (Parks) Cooper. Bob was the second of three children. He grew up on the family ranch up the Animas Valley doing all the things a rancher's son did.
On April 26, 1969, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a shipfitter on the destroyer U.S.S. Harold J. Ellison until his honorable discharge on Feb. 13, 1973. Bob loved the Navy and was extremely proud of his naval service.
On July 17, 1970, Bob married Debra Stolworthy and they had two children, Kyle and Dusty. The couple later divorced.
On Sept. 2, 1989, Bob married the love of his life, partner, nurse, critic, fishing buddy and biggest supporter, Sandy Lane. Sandy's son, Brandon, quickly became Bob's oldest son.
Bob and Sandy made their home in Durango until both boys were grown and gone. They then moved to their home in Oxford. There Bob's passion for animals, especially his mules, Sunny and Breezy, blossomed into a full-time habit. He was proud of his mules who were born and raised right there at his home.
Bob's happiness was volunteering his time and energy in the community. He would load up the wagon and go to parades, family functions, pumpkin patches and campouts where he would harness the mules, grab a young person, put them in the wagon seat next to him, give them the lines and teach them to drive his beloved team.
Bob was an auctioneer locally for many years. He was the teamster for the Fiesta Days Chuckwagon Cook-off, an American Cancer Society volunteer since his first battle with cancer in 1991, a hunting camp cook, past president of the Pine River Heritage Society, and past president of the 4 Corners Draft Horse Mule and Carriage Association. He chaired the Bayfield Heritage Day parade. Santa Claus caught a ride to the Manna Soup Kitchen in his wagon on Christmas. He loved the western history taught to Bayfield second graders, loading them in the wagon and hauling them to the Pine River Valley Museum. Bob did all he could for the local FFA and 4-H. He loved children and sharing western life. Bob's favorite job was being Sandy's personal teamster.
He loved God, his family, his country and his animals. The light of his life, next to Sandy, was his numerous grandchildren.
"I am so blessed to have the most beautiful granddaughters of any man who lived," he often quipped.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 25 years; his oldest son, Brandon and his wife Callie, and son Kyle and his love Stephanie; daughter Dusty and her husband Richard; brother David and sister Nita; and numerous nieces and nephews. He also is survived by 19 grandchildren: Stephanie, Keyra, Jesse, Shayla, Dylan, Breann, Aiden, Branson, Braxton, Cody, Jenna, Justin, Josie, Ray, Naomi, Coy, Maddie, Colin, and Ethan. He is also survived by his favorite mules, Sunny and Breezy, and dogs, Bailey and Emma.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at Pine Valley Church, 1328 County Road 501, in Bayfield. Bob will be laid to rest with his dog Patches in Crestview Memorial Gardens, at the intersection of Highway 160 and Highway 172.
A fellowship gathering for the survivors and friends of Bob will be held at Florida Grange, 656 Highway 172, following burial.
