Chester “Ed” Edwin Cooper, 82, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, passed away at 11:45 am December 9, 2020 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon. Mr. Cooper worked as a Plumber Pipefitter at Local 551 for fifty years. He loved playing gospel music and the guitar and harmonica. Ed will be dearly missed by everyone he knew.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, December 12, 2020 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at Harmony Cemetery in Mount Vernon. A Graveside Service will begin at 1:00 pm with Merle Fullerton officiating. Interment will follow. Memorials may be made in Ed’s honor to Harmony Cemetery. Please remember to observe social distancing at this time. We are limited to 10 people under the tent at a time. Following the CDC and NFDA regulations, we encourage everyone to wear a mask. They will be made available, upon request. Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
Ed is survived by his beloved companion, Verla Keele of Mount Vernon; son, Chester Eddie Cooper, Jr.; niece, Leeann Tardino and husband, Jack of Bethalto, Illinois; two great-nieces; Verla’s children, Todd Keele and wife, Robin of Mount Vernon and Paula Keele and wife, Diane of Champaign, Illinois; grandchildren, Joshua Keele and wife, Caitlin of San Antonio, Texas, Candace Meyers and husband, Andrew of Altamont, Illinois, and Emma and Karsyn Keele-Routh, both of Champaign, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Kaleb Keele of Mount Vernon, Kayden Keele of San Antonio, Texas, and Jaxon Meyers and Carter Meyers, both of Altamont, Illinois; aunt, Mae Sumner of Mount Vernon; and uncle, George Cooper of West Palm Beach, Florida.
He was born September 9, 1938 in Jefferson County, Illinois to the late Chester Leon and Venita (Sumner) Cooper. In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his daughter, Tracy Lynn Cooper; sister, Jeanette Fassero of Bethalto, Illinos; aunt, Roberta “Bertie” Sledge.
