Obituary for Paul Cooper
Mr. Paul Cooper, age 82 of Nashville, MI passed away on March 29, 2022 at Thornapple Manor in Hastings.
Paul was born in Lansing, MI, February 18, 1940, a son of Mary and Lloyd Cooper. He was raised in the Grand Ledge area and attended local schools. When Paul was a young teenager, he left school to begin working at the Grand Ledge Chair Company, learning the trade of Upholstery. Paul’s exemplary work ethic and attention to quality, quickly earned him the title of Master Upholster. Paul’s specialty was custom unique furniture that required the eye and talent of a true craftsman. Many of the pieces he produced over the years were done using basic tools and a technique called “spit tacking”. Paul would place a handful of upholstery tacks in his mouth, then using the magnet on his hammer remove the tacks and hammer them perfectly into place on the piece of furniture he was covering. Her perfected this technique and often worked faster than most modern staple guns. Paul’s workmanship extended beyond local shops and homes, as many items he helped produced are still being used in building at our nation’s capital. Paul was employed at the Grand Ledge Chair Company from 1956 until the company closed its operations. He then opened his own shop, Cooper Upholstery, in his Nashville home.
He was the husband of Janice (Randall) Cooper. Paul had visited Nashville Baptist Church with friends where he was introduced to Janice. The couple were married in 1977 at Nashville Baptist Church and made their home together in Nashville, MI. Paul & Janice loved their church family and were active in several different areas of ministry. Paul enjoyed greeting each Sunday and serving as an usher, while Janet worked as the church secretary. Paul was generally a shy reserve gentleman, until he put his clown costume on! In his role as “Sir Oliver” the clown, Paul was right at home entertaining in just about any venue or event making balloon animals and other fun props.
In 1988 Paul & Janice needed a change, so the upholstery shop was closed, the house sold, and the couple moved to Lakeland Florida. Paul began working at Disney’s Epcot Center in the custodial services area, and once again his unwavering work ethic and attention to detail yielded two “Spirit of Disney” awards. He truly loved working at Disney and looked forward to escorting his “Northern” friends and family through the parks when they came to visit during the cold winter months.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife Janice, his sons Lloyd (Dieona) Cooper, Tory Roscoe, daughters Deborah Morawski, & Cynthia Smith, sisters Laura Shepard, June Pennfield, grandchildren Madelyn Updyke, Sydnie Rohn, Keith & Stan McKelvey, Joshua Roscoe, Brandon Mugridge, Evelyn Mix, Steven Roscoe and Thomas Roscoe. He was preceded in death by his son Larry Roscoe, sisters Betty Miller, and brothers Arthur & Richard Cooper,
A celebration of life will be held at Nashville Baptist Church later this spring.
“Paul could take anybody’s day and turn it into sunshine with a few simple words”
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home - Nashville, MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.
Paul was born in Lansing, MI, February 18, 1940, a son of Mary and Lloyd Cooper. He was raised in the Grand Ledge area and attended local schools. When Paul was a young teenager, he left school to begin working at the Grand Ledge Chair Company, learning the trade of Upholstery. Paul’s exemplary work ethic and attention to quality, quickly earned him the title of Master Upholster. Paul’s specialty was custom unique furniture that required the eye and talent of a true craftsman. Many of the pieces he produced over the years were done using basic tools and a technique called “spit tacking”. Paul would place a handful of upholstery tacks in his mouth, then using the magnet on his hammer remove the tacks and hammer them perfectly into place on the piece of furniture he was covering. Her perfected this technique and often worked faster than most modern staple guns. Paul’s workmanship extended beyond local shops and homes, as many items he helped produced are still being used in building at our nation’s capital. Paul was employed at the Grand Ledge Chair Company from 1956 until the company closed its operations. He then opened his own shop, Cooper Upholstery, in his Nashville home.
He was the husband of Janice (Randall) Cooper. Paul had visited Nashville Baptist Church with friends where he was introduced to Janice. The couple were married in 1977 at Nashville Baptist Church and made their home together in Nashville, MI. Paul & Janice loved their church family and were active in several different areas of ministry. Paul enjoyed greeting each Sunday and serving as an usher, while Janet worked as the church secretary. Paul was generally a shy reserve gentleman, until he put his clown costume on! In his role as “Sir Oliver” the clown, Paul was right at home entertaining in just about any venue or event making balloon animals and other fun props.
In 1988 Paul & Janice needed a change, so the upholstery shop was closed, the house sold, and the couple moved to Lakeland Florida. Paul began working at Disney’s Epcot Center in the custodial services area, and once again his unwavering work ethic and attention to detail yielded two “Spirit of Disney” awards. He truly loved working at Disney and looked forward to escorting his “Northern” friends and family through the parks when they came to visit during the cold winter months.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife Janice, his sons Lloyd (Dieona) Cooper, Tory Roscoe, daughters Deborah Morawski, & Cynthia Smith, sisters Laura Shepard, June Pennfield, grandchildren Madelyn Updyke, Sydnie Rohn, Keith & Stan McKelvey, Joshua Roscoe, Brandon Mugridge, Evelyn Mix, Steven Roscoe and Thomas Roscoe. He was preceded in death by his son Larry Roscoe, sisters Betty Miller, and brothers Arthur & Richard Cooper,
A celebration of life will be held at Nashville Baptist Church later this spring.
“Paul could take anybody’s day and turn it into sunshine with a few simple words”
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home - Nashville, MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.