In Loving Memory of
Ruel N. Cooper II
September 25, 1940 – January 24, 2021
A Virtual Celebration of Life was held on February 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM PST
Watch the Celebration of Life Video
Ruel Newton Cooper II passed away peacefully on January 24th surrounded by family. He was born on September 25, 1940 in Dexter, MO and enjoyed growing up in several small Missouri towns with his sisters Anne Pruett and Betty Bertrand. They moved to Tucson, AZ in 1957 and Ruel graduated from Tucson High School in 1958. He met the love of his life, Susan Finney, on a blind date on February 5, 1960, and they were married on November 27, 1963. Ruel studied business at the University of Arizona and graduated in 1965. He was a lifelong fan of the Arizona Wildcats and always enjoyed cheering on his team, Bear Down!
Ruel started working for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph in 1959, climbing telephone poles and working in the central office while attending the UofA. After getting his degree he was transferred to several cities—Phoenix, Denver and Boise, returning to Tucson in 1981. He enjoyed being social in the Tucson community and was active in the Casas Adobes Rotary Club serving as president one year, and The American Red Cross where he volunteered as board chairman. He retired from U.S. West Communications as a District Level supervisor in 1991 after 31 years of service. Ruel loved visiting with family, traveling, patiently counseling 7 grandchildren on the importance of learning to handle money, eating at Mexican restaurants in Tucson, playing blackjack at the Casino del Sol and visiting with old telephone company friends. Ruel was a kind and thoughtful man who was well respected and made friends easily wherever he went. Intelligent and interested in business, he read the AZ Daily Star every day. His generous spirit and positive outlook on life made him a role model for his children and grandchildren. Ruel was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012. He never lost his sense of humor and always greeted everyone with a smile and a funny story. Ruel and Susan moved to Newport, Oregon in November 2020 to be closer to family.
He is preceded in death by father, Ruel Newton Cooper and mother, Alta Mildred Judd Cooper Smyth and stepfather Alvin Smyth.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan Cooper, daughters Kylle Clemons (Sean) and Kara Cooper (Matt Grass), son Ruel N Cooper III, sisters Anne Pruett and Betty Bertrand, stepbrothers Alvin Jr, Jimmie Lee and Mike Smyth, as well as seven grandchildren: Keagan, Kyla, Belia, Lola, Bobby, Cooper and Luke, great grandson Beckham, and by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ruel will be remembered as a loving, considerate and kind son, father, grandfather, great grandfather, cousin, uncle, stepbrother and friend. He lived a full life and will be cherished forever.
Memorial Donations may be made to Samaritan Health Services or Parkinson’s Foundation.
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Oh Susan, It’s been a long time ago but you and Ruel were true friends. I have very fond memories of our fun times. Dear Kathy passed away Aug 2016 from brain cancer. I know how tough it is.
Terry Peugh
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Dearest Susan and family, May God Bless and care for all of you..
Ruel was a generous and cheerful man. I just discovered today that he had passed in Feb. 2021. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I will call soon.
Patricia Burke
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My deepest condolences go out to Ruel’s, wife, Susan, family and friends. So sorry I missed the virtual Celebration of Life for Ruel, he will be remembered as my deceased husband, Dick Powell’s best friend (beginning at Tucson High). Along with his wife, Sue, Ruel will always be regarded as two of the kindest people I have ever known. I was immediately and graciously accepted into their circle of family and friends. We enjoyed many vacations and visits together – frequently our immediate families staying in each others’ homes and that integrated our families. Even though those visits had dwindled in frequency over the years, because of jobs and moves, there is still a familial closeness to Ruel Cooper’s family (particularly Sue, a great friend and their children: Kylle, Kara and Ruel), and always will.
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My condolences to all the family of my cousin Ruel Cooper. We shared the same grandfather, Terrence Virgil Cooper. I was blessed to meet and get acquainted with Ruel and Susan in 2019 thanks to the efforts of cousin Anne to get us together. I spent several days visiting and sightseeing with Ruel and Susan on my visits to Tuscon for two years.
I felt an immediate kinship to Ruel and I think he looked and had some of the personality traits of our grandpa. He was gentle and kind and gracious. I only wish we could have had more time together. I will hold the memory of Ruel in my heart until we meet again.
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Over the years,I have heard Susan so often speak of her wonderfully kind and caring husband, Ruel, that I feel we had a connection. He will be sorely missed by Susan and their lovely family, but his memory will live on with all of us.
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Dearest Ruel,
Growing-up, your home was the place to be for us kids! Your home had a seemingly constant stream of kids running through it, yet you always managed to make me feel special, thank you.
I will always remember your warm smile that greeted me as soon as I walked through your door. As an adult, I will always remember your generous offer of “want a glass of a glass of wine?” as soon as I walked through your door.
Rest in love, Mr. Cooper.
With love & hugs – Mary Farber
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Donna and I were sorry to hear of Ruel’s passing. We remember meeting him in Tucson at Kylle’s and Sean’s wedding. He and Susan made us feel as if we had known them our entire lives. We enjoyed visiting with them when they came to Kansas City. Ruel, Susan and I took a road trip to Donna’s brother’s farm in Atchison, Kansas. We ended up in a bar in Leavenworth where Ruel met one of his coworkers from Arizona. It was a good time…small world. We enjoyed going to the casinos with them when they visited. Although we have not been able to visit with him for several years, we will always remember him as a gentleman who loved his family and sharing stories from his past.
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As Ruel’s oldest sister, I chose not to speak, simply due to the fact I shared the feeling with our sister, Betty Bertrand, that we are too emotionally invested to feel comfortable speaking. Ruel knew how deeply I loved him and has stated many times that I seemed more like a mother to him than a sister. We three siblings were very close and being the youngest child and the only boy, he held a very special place in my heart and Betty’s. There are definitely stories of his childhood I will be willing to share once we are able to all gather as a family in the future when the Pandemic becomes a thing of the past and we are able to travel safely again. That family reunion will be a very special one with memories being shared that are unable to be shared at this celebration of life.
Rest In Peace, little brother. I will love you until I take my last breath and join you, my dear Farrel, our parents and all the loved ones who have gone before us!
Your loving sister and “ other mother”,
Anne
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Ruel’s obituary says it all. I have good memories of Ruel, Anne And Betty. I am glad I was able to have a phone visit with Ruel last Fall.
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Sending my love and opening up a comforting space for your entire precious family at this tender time. So thankful my beloved friend Susan is surrounded by such a loving family. I will always remember the twinkle in Ruel’s eye and the obvious love for his Susie and his entire family. Many blessings. Love, Heather
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We will always remember Ruel’s smile, hearty laugh, how his face would light up when telling a story and the way he loved his family with his whole heart. Thank you for always being so welcoming and making me, Jason and the kids feel like part of your family. Rest In Peace, you will be missed.
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Our thoughts are with you and all the family, Susan dear.
With peace and love,
Phyllis and Ted Feragne