Roll Call Tribute

John Eugene "Jack" Cooper 

November 22, 1937 - April 25, 2025 

John E. “Jack” Cooper, 87, of Texas City, Texas passed away on April 25, 2025, at home. Jack was born November 22, 1937, in Houston, TX, and grew up in the West End attending George Washington Junior High School. In 1952 he moved with his family to Texas City, where he graduated from Texas City High School in 1956. He graduated from Texas A&M College in 1961 and received a commission as a 2/Lt in the U.S. Army. He served two years on active duty and 26 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a Lt. Col.

When he got off active duty, he worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau in Antarctica for six months and then traveled throughout the Far East. He spent 28 years in the criminal justice system working as a Texas State Parole Officer and later as a United States Probation Officer in Houston and Galveston. After retiring from U.S. Probation in 1992, he worked as an investigator for the State Bar of Texas and retired again in 2003. In his later years he worked as a Special Investigator for the FBI conducting background investigations.

Jack was President of the Texas City Jaycees in 1971 and helped start the first Special Olympics in Texas City. He served as Chairman on the Texas City Housing Authority for ten years and was the first President and Founding Director of Gulf Coast Big Brothers-Big Sisters. He was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Texas City and served on most committees, taught Sunday school, and sang in the Chancel Choir.

During his life he was a world traveler. He traveled to 30 countries and visited all the states in the U.S. except one; North Dakota is the only state he did not visit, as he said “it’s usually too cold there anyhow”. In the last 15+ years of his life he traveled throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arizona and Florida watching his grandson, who he so dearly loved, play baseball.

Jack had a favorite poem “Around the Corner” that talked about keeping up with friends. If he had not heard from you in a while he would call, text, or email. He had lunch with his TCHS classmates once a month. He and Liz had a group of friends that met once a month and in recent years a group of men that had breakfast every Tuesday. Jack never wanted to miss any of these activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis C. Cooper, and Juanita “Sally” Cooper. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth R. Cooper; sons, Andrew F. Cooper and fiancé Denise, and John David Cooper; and grandson Korey John Cooper. He is also survived by his brother Jerry C. Cooper and wife Carole of College Station, TX, and his sister Linda Cooper Holm and husband Ralph of Bryan, TX, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Always remember as Jack would say “People have more fun than anybody” and “Glad you got to see me.”