Roll Call Tribute
P. "Johnnie" Cooper Sr. '62 January 25, 2021 4:32 PM updated: January 25, 2021 4:59 PM
P. Johnnie Cooper
August 20, 1939 - January 19, 2021
P. Johnnie Cooper of Needville, TX, passed away January 19, 2021, after several months of overwhelming health problems.
The last of six children, Johnnie was born August 20, 1939, in Robstown, Texas, to Robert L. and Berniece Harmon Cooper. He was involved in most sports and graduated from Robstown High School in 1958. He held several FFA officer positions and was awarded the Lone Star Farmer and Dekalb Award. He attended Texas A&M University where he was in the Corp of Cadets two years and received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education. He continued in graduate school to receive his MS degree in Dairy Reproductive Physiology.
He taught and managed the college dairy at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches from 1964-1966. He began his 30 year Extension Service career starting in Harris County in 1966. He served as County Extension Agent in Colorado County at Columbus from 1970-1976 when he transferred to Fort Bend County with offices in Richmond. He retired in Fort Bend County in 1995. He received many recognitions and awards in this almost 30 year tenure. He was Texas’s first County based 4-H Program Leader. Most cherished were the Distinguished Service Award selected by his peers and serving as Director and officer on the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association Board. He won the Texas Soil Fertility Award for work in soil fertility and crop production recognition in a multitude of crops. As a member of the Methodist Church, he has served as Church board member, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, Charge Lay Leader, Council of Ministries chair, and Pastor Parish Relations committee chair. He served on the Fort Bend County Fair Board, the Chamber of Commerce Agricultural committee which he chaired for several years, Farm Bureau Board of Directors as Secretary and many others.
In 1960, he married Sandra J. Coward and they had four children, Johnnie Jr., Rhonda and Dianna (twins), and Laurie. In 1990, he married Barbara Kramer Legendre who had two sons: Chris and Clinton. Together he and Barbara have eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Since retirement, he has enjoyed traveling, elk hunting, supporting the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and visiting parts of the country including five trips to Alaska and one or two trips every year to Colorado. He and Barbara have also vacationed to Hawaii.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, and daughter-in-law Joan Cooper. Survivors include his wife, Barbara, son Johnnie Jr. ('88), daughters Rhonda Ramirez and her husband Daniel, Dianna Evans, and Laurie Davis and husband Craig of Lewisville, grandchildren Stephanie Knight, Jerome Gernand and Felicia, William Plows, Lexy Kubena and husband Shawn, Logan Hughes, and River Hughes, great-grandchildren Summer Piland, Autumn Moore, Calvin Knight-Moore, Taytum Plows, Adelae Butler and “Trey” Gernand plus over a dozen nieces and nephews. Barbara’s family include sons Chris Legendre and Clinton Legendre and grandchildren Chance, Trace, Cale, Tayah, and Rylan Legendre.
A Memorial Service at First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg will be announced at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg, Fort Bend County A&M Club, or the Houston Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Condolence messages may be written for the family at www.garmanycarden.com.
Arrangements were under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.
© Copyright 2006 - 21 Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, Inc.. All Rights Reserved
August 20, 1939 - January 19, 2021
P. Johnnie Cooper of Needville, TX, passed away January 19, 2021, after several months of overwhelming health problems.
The last of six children, Johnnie was born August 20, 1939, in Robstown, Texas, to Robert L. and Berniece Harmon Cooper. He was involved in most sports and graduated from Robstown High School in 1958. He held several FFA officer positions and was awarded the Lone Star Farmer and Dekalb Award. He attended Texas A&M University where he was in the Corp of Cadets two years and received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education. He continued in graduate school to receive his MS degree in Dairy Reproductive Physiology.
He taught and managed the college dairy at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches from 1964-1966. He began his 30 year Extension Service career starting in Harris County in 1966. He served as County Extension Agent in Colorado County at Columbus from 1970-1976 when he transferred to Fort Bend County with offices in Richmond. He retired in Fort Bend County in 1995. He received many recognitions and awards in this almost 30 year tenure. He was Texas’s first County based 4-H Program Leader. Most cherished were the Distinguished Service Award selected by his peers and serving as Director and officer on the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association Board. He won the Texas Soil Fertility Award for work in soil fertility and crop production recognition in a multitude of crops. As a member of the Methodist Church, he has served as Church board member, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, Charge Lay Leader, Council of Ministries chair, and Pastor Parish Relations committee chair. He served on the Fort Bend County Fair Board, the Chamber of Commerce Agricultural committee which he chaired for several years, Farm Bureau Board of Directors as Secretary and many others.
In 1960, he married Sandra J. Coward and they had four children, Johnnie Jr., Rhonda and Dianna (twins), and Laurie. In 1990, he married Barbara Kramer Legendre who had two sons: Chris and Clinton. Together he and Barbara have eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Since retirement, he has enjoyed traveling, elk hunting, supporting the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and visiting parts of the country including five trips to Alaska and one or two trips every year to Colorado. He and Barbara have also vacationed to Hawaii.
He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters, and daughter-in-law Joan Cooper. Survivors include his wife, Barbara, son Johnnie Jr. ('88), daughters Rhonda Ramirez and her husband Daniel, Dianna Evans, and Laurie Davis and husband Craig of Lewisville, grandchildren Stephanie Knight, Jerome Gernand and Felicia, William Plows, Lexy Kubena and husband Shawn, Logan Hughes, and River Hughes, great-grandchildren Summer Piland, Autumn Moore, Calvin Knight-Moore, Taytum Plows, Adelae Butler and “Trey” Gernand plus over a dozen nieces and nephews. Barbara’s family include sons Chris Legendre and Clinton Legendre and grandchildren Chance, Trace, Cale, Tayah, and Rylan Legendre.
A Memorial Service at First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg will be announced at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg, Fort Bend County A&M Club, or the Houston Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Condolence messages may be written for the family at www.garmanycarden.com.
Arrangements were under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.
© Copyright 2006 - 21 Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, Inc.. All Rights Reserved
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