Joel Earl Cooper “Joe” Passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at the age of 67, in the VA Hospital in Muskogee, Okla.

Joe was born in Kingburg, Calif., on August 28, 1945. He grew up in both Creek County, Okla., and in California, living in the Central Valley and the Bay Area. Many stories could be told of childhood days spent picking figs; and teenage days, working on golf courses; both in California and Reno, Nev. He graduated from high school in Sapulpa, Class Of 1963.

Joe was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, Calif., October 14, 1965 where he attained the rank of SPEC-4 with the 57TH Ordnance Brigade. He came home on leave to marry his sweetheart , Mary Schwickerath, on June 14, 1966. Then he flew to Ft. Dix, N.J., before being stationed to the Rhine Ordnance Barracks, and Ramstein Air Base in Kaiser-Slautern, West Germany. While in Germany, he also worked at the Heli-Port, in Land- Stuhl. He continued to serve in Europe until he was honorably discharged in 1967.

In October, 1964 he was inducted into another army; just off of Highway 101 in Cotati, Calif. He was called to preach, and preached his first message in Sapulpa, shortly before he was inducted into the U. S. Army in the fall of 1965.

Upon returning to the states in 1967, he resided in Chelsea, Okla., where he served as youth leader and deacon at Chelsea Free Holiness Church. 1971 brought about a move to Tulsa, where he maintained a residence until the spring of 2008. In 2008 he moved back to Creek County where he lived until he required a fully handicapped-accessible facility for his care.

Because he felt the need for quality Christian education, he helped to establish Hale Christian Academy in 1982; being the school’s first supervisor. Joe also saw the need for fellowship among brethren. Having served as youth director and delegate-at-large, for the Undenominational Christian Fellowship. He carried a special burden for their Camp Meeting and Youth Camp just west of Sapulpa.

He served as a deacon and secretary /treasurer of North Heights Holiness in Sapulpa, Okla. Having gone there to be a help, shortly after the church was established in 1973.

He pastored churches in Turley, Okla., Keota, Okla., and Glenpool, Okla. Along with pastoring, he traveled in evangelistic work. He was always ready to encourage young ministers; several who received the Holy Ghost under his preaching were themselves called into the ministry.

He believed in preaching Bible truth; above all else and he lived what he preached. He loved to tell the many miracles he had seen God do. Especially the great healings God had given him. He lived by faith, and his one great desire was to win souls to Christ.

He was promoted to his Father’s house on October 23, 2012, 48 years to the day after he entered the Lord’s service.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; son, Clayton and daughter, Kimberly; six brothers, Lawrence and wife, Elvie, Kenneth and wife, Kay, James and wife, Freda, Howard and wife, Paulette, Roy, Herbert and wife, Peggy; sister, Betty Vandecar and husband Troy; brother-in-law, Charles Schwickerath and wife, Carolyn; and a host of friends and relatives.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents: J.A. "Fay" and Nevada Cooper; two brothers, Ernest Lee and Steven Jesse Cooper and sister, Barbara Ann Cooper.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Smith Funeral Chapel, Sapulpa. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, October 26, 2012 at Midway Full Gospel Church. Officiating will be the Reverends Lonnie Dutton and Charles Schwickerath. Interment will follow at Sunrise Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Sapulpa.