December 1, 1948 – April 1, 2024
DeRuse Eugene Cooper Jr. died April 1, 2024, with his daughter by his side in Hatfield, Ark. He was born December 1, 1948, in Okmulgee to DeRuse, Sr. and Dorothy Willou (Mitchner) Cooper as the youngest of their four children – Margaret, Ben, Helen and De. His dad coached him and all the neighborhood kids at Franklin Elementary. De was an accomplished athlete at Okmulgee High School and that success earned him a college football scholarship to NEO where they won the National Championship. He played football, basketball and ran track with many state championships in his success. His junior year in high school, De ran at the Junior Olympics at Rice University and placed in the Top 10. He met his wife Mary (Penney) Vanderpool at church in kindergarten. They began dating in junior high and built a beautiful life together raising two daughters- Shawn Hutchings and Candace Collins. They both were teachers who dedicated their lives to kids. De coached at the high school level in both Oklahoma and Missouri. His career led him to coach and teach for many years at East Central University in Ada, and then to Panhandle State University in Goodwell.
During his coaching career, he helped start football at Forest Grove and coached them to state championships in both football and track. He also coached numerous athletes to gold in shot put and discus. In retirement, he continued coaching at Idabel High School because he loved coaching and the kids too much to not coach. When he wasn’t on the field, he was calling plays from the pressbox. Even battling Stage 4 cancer this season, he never missed a game and was so incredibly proud of the 11-1 season they had.
De also served in the military. He was active duty in the Air Force for four years and then served in the Army National Guard when his daughters were young.
For recreation, De, along with his brother and father, loved to bird hunt and fish. He loved animals and always had dogs. He loved being a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His influence cannot be measured because of all the young lives that he impacted through teaching and coaching. He was an amazing man with a huge heart and he will be dearly missed.
Preceded in death by his parents, DeRuse and Willow Cooper; wife Penny Cooper, son, DeRuse E Cooper, III (Gene); daughter, Cynthia Shawn Hutchings; great-grandsons, Cooper Bradley Collins and Case Charles Bray; in laws, Dr. JP Vanderpool and Orene Vanderpool, DeRuse & Willow Cooper; brother- in-law, James Perry ‘Jimmy’ Vanderpool and sister-in-law, Sue Vanderpool; brotherin- law, James Newendorp.
DeRuse leaves to cherish his memory, daughter, Candace Collins and Mitch Martin of Hatfield, AR; brother, Dr. Ben Cooper of Cache; sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Bill Nygard of Okmulgee; sister, Margaret Newendorp of Tulsa; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Tom and Susan Vanderpool; sister-in-law, Cynthia Vanderpool all of Tulsa; grandchildren, Hunter Hutchings, Haley and Kelby Dean, Caylee Collins, Canon and Cheyenne Collins; great-grandchildren, Carson, Chloee and Caitlee Collins, Emyree Bridges, Delaney and Decker Dean; a host of other relatives and a multitude of coaches, athletes and friends.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Bunch-Singleton Funeral Home in Broken Bow.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2024, at Okmulgee Cemetery in Okmulgee.
A Celebration of Life service is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Idabel Middle School Auditorium in Idabel.
