Obituary – Eddie Thomas Cooper

Eddie Thomas Cooper

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BLOUNTSTOWN, FL – Eddie Thomas Cooper, 85, of Blountstown, passed away July 12, 2024 with his family by his side at UF Hospital in Jacksonville.

Shortly after graduating from Altha High School, he began his lifelong career of 57 years in Dredge Operations where his responsibilities ranged from working as a Deckhand, Deck Captain, and Leverman before earning his prestigious Dredge Captain license.

During the Vietnam War, he served as a U.S. Merchant Mariner in a variety of specialties supporting the U.S. Department of Defense. He would go on to close his career out as the Dump Forman after traveling the world to places such as Iran, Bahrain, Brazil, Aruba, Singapore, Guatemala, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Colombia where he met the love of his life, his wife of 50 years, Yolanda Burgos Cooper.

After retiring he found a great love in growing peppers, blueberries and planting flowers. He was an avid reader, loved to share stories of history with his family and was also an avid hunter and fisherman.

Eddie cherished his wife, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. He spent his days feeding farm animals, helping with the grandkids and cherishing every moment with family, for he knew that was the greatest gift and accomplishment he had ever received. He was a member of the Catholic Church at St. Francis of Assissi in Blountstown.

Eddie is proceeded in death by his mother, Irene Ruby (Neel) Yon, and his son, Richard Edward Cooper.

He leaves behind his wife Yolanda (Burgos) Cooper; his children, Ronald Douglas Cooper, Ruby (Nina) Darlene and her husband Danny Neel, Daniel Cesar and wife Clarissa (Hayes) Cooper; eight grandchildren, Jeremy Christopher and his wife Rebecca (Ore) Cooper, Cortney (Neel) and her husband Trevor Whittington, Gavin Cooper, Carson Neel, Cooper Neel, Avery Cooper, Ansley Cooper and Autry Cooper; seven great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Thomas, Harrison, Amelia, and Oliver Cooper and Liam and Neel Whittington.

Memorial services to honor Eddie’s life will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at Adams Funeral Home in Blountstown. There will be a time of visitation beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Adams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.