William Richard 'Rick' Cooper
William Richard Cooper (Rick) passed away from an extended illness of Alzheimer's disease early on Tuesday morning, Oct. 25, 2005, at the age of 56.
A memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, at the family home, 6045 Blacktail Rd., Careywood, Idaho.
Rick was born on a farm in the hills of Tennessee in 1949. When quite young, his family moved to Ohio and when he was 10 they moved to Orange, Calif.
He listened to his father play steel guitar, which gave Rick the appreciation for music and helped him become an accomplished guitar player and leader of his own band. During high school he began a trade school for HVAC which he completed. He was very proud of his work in sheet metal fabrication and extremely pleased that his sons learned the trade and worked next to him for several years.
He moved to Idaho in 1972 where he built a home in Careywood and began a family with his former wife Julie. Two sons, Travis and Wade, were born to them giving him the light in his eyes. While playing music he met his current wife, Phyllis, also a musician. In 1980, they married and enlarged his family with two step-daughters, Karen and Toni. Rick formed the band Hickory Wind, playing the local circuit for 20 years making a lasting bond and friendship with his fellow musicians.
He loved the outdoors and enjoyed the many camping trips with friends. Riding trails on his dirt bike or ATV was a real passion. Hiking, fishing, rafting, and outdoor barbeques were seldom passed up. He enjoyed all six grandchildren and spoke of them often. His sense of humor and fun loving side will be truly missed by all.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his sons, Travis and Wade; his stepdaughters, Karen and Toni; grandchildren Camren, Sterling, Brittany, Nate, Kyle and Tana; his mother, Ruth Lloyd; his sister, Kathy and family, Gift, Erin and Everett; his nephew, Wendell; and his niece, Wendy. He was preceded in death by his father, Wavy Cooper, also from Alzheimer's, and a brother, Windell Stout, in September 2005.