COOPER, Roy F.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ May 11, 1994, p. 2 Roy F. Cooper of Prescott died May 2 at the Arizona Pioneers’ Home in Prescott. He was 69. Mr. Cooper, an Arizona native, was born June 21, 1924 in Prescott to Roy F. and Nel (Sweeten) Cooper. Roy’s grandfather and great-grandfather, Robert and Dee Sweeten, were the first to bring Angora goats to Arizona. They drove the goats 1,500 miles from Rock Springs, Texas, to the Kirkland/Skull Valley area. His parents met at the Skull Valley Store and made their home on the Spring Creek homestead that became the Cooper Ranch, which ran upward to 5,000 goats and sheep. Roy and his brothers were raised by a hard working mother who had lost her husband early in their marriage in 1939. He was a life member of the Yavapai Cattle Growers Association and State Cattle Growers Association also a member of the Yavapai Sheriff’s Posse. He was a trail leader and host for many Desert Caballeros rides and functions out of Wickenburg. He counted their members among his best friends and he was proud of his award-winning Prickly Pear jelly and needlepoint. After he moved to the Pioneers ‘ Home in the fall of 1990, he was involved in everything and was the unofficial social director of the walking club, spelling bees and rhythm band and he saw that things got started on time. Mr. Cooper is survived by brothers Bob of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and John of Wagoner, Arizona; nephews Roy F. Cooper III, Denis Cooper and John Bill Cooper; nieces Nel Cooper and Mary Hamil; grandnieces Stacy, Brandy, Sarah, Emily, Marissa and Amy and his best friend and bunkmate, Cowboy Gene Maders. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1990. Services have been held, and interment was at the family plot Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott. Pastor Galen Nesham officiated. Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home in Prescott handled the arrangements.