Ronnie Cooper

Ronnie E. (Red) Cooper, 71, lifelong resident of Seneca, MO passed away December 10, 2017 at Freeman West Hospital after an illness.   Ronnie Ernest Cooper was born April 7, 1946 in Seneca, MO the son of James P. and Lucia Marie (Swisher) Cooper and raised by his step-father James A. Snow. Ronnie begin his career as an auto mechanic at the age of 16 at the Chevrolet Garage in Seneca, MO. Red later opened and operated Coopers Garage in Seneca. He loved to fish, coon hunt and sports especially baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals.  Red played baseball when he was younger.  He was a former member of the Seneca Kawana’s Club and the Seneca Chamber of Commerce. He was a proud member of the Coffee Drinkers Society of Seneca which meets daily at Mama’s Place.  He was a Christian.   Ronnie E. Cooper married Carol West May 25, 1985 in Seneca, MO and she survives.   Additional survivors include children, Ronald Cooper and wife Debra, Carthage, MO, Scott Cooper and wife Staci, Seneca, MO, Richard Cooper and wife Carmelina, Neosho, MO, Sasha Cooper, Seneca, MO, Billy Williams, Neosho, MO, Mike Williams and wife Connie, Russellville, AR and Jeff Williams, Seneca, MO; siblings, Jessie Sparlin, Neosho, MO, Virginia Hall, Seneca and Mary Bryant, Neosho, MO; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren (Red was known to his grandchildren as Papa candy).   Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, step-father and one sister Bonnie Morgan.    The family will receive friends from 6 to 7pm, Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home.    Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, Seneca, with Truman Brady officiating. Burial will be in the New Salem Cemetery with grandsons and nephews serving as pallbearers.