HARVEYVILLE, Kan. – Frank Gene Cooper, 89, passed away Friday, March 6, 2020, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. Frank was born April 10, 1930, in Harveyville, Kan., the son of John Henry and France Mae (Pryor) Cooper.

He shortly served in United States Army but was discharged for family hardship. He returned to help his family.

He was joined in marriage to Pat Mooney and they later divorced. To this union, a daughter, Judy, was born. Frank then later married Reba Lee Murphey, on Dec. 24, 1954, in Jasper, Mo. To this union, two children were born, Donna and John.

Frank had lived in Jasper, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., Eskridge, Kan., and then for the last 29 years near Harveyville. He was an over the road truck driver and had plenty of stories to tell of his adventures. His hobbies when not trucking were auctions and telling stories.

He will be forever remembered by his wife, Reba, of the home; two daughters, Judy Louise (Robert) Broughton, Independence, Mo., and Donna (Buddy) Smallwood, Harveyville; a son, John Douglas Cooper, Harveyville; a sister, June Williams, and a brother, Jim Cooper, both of Surprise, Ariz.; and six grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eureva Montgomery and Doris Janette; and a brother, Richard “Dick” Cooper.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the Harveyville United Methodist Church, Harveyville. Family will receive friends 9 a.m. until service time on Wednesday. Burial to follow service at Eskridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or Arthritis Research Center Inc., sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, PO Box 338, Eskridge, KS 66423. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.