Archie C Cooper

Archie Cecil Cooper, 89, of Spokane, WA, passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2023 to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Archie, an only child, was born on August 2, 1933 in Pasco, Washington, to Eddie S. Cooper and Mary E. (Carlisle) Cooper.  
He often spoke of the hardships growing up at the end of the Great Depression, such as contracting polio, living in old chicken houses, and helping salvage scrap to pay bills.  Despite the challenges, he enjoyed a carefree childhood with his large extended family, playing with numerous cousins, riding bikes, eating his fill of watermelon from the fields, swimming, and playing along the Columbia River. 
When Archie was in the 5th grade, his family relocated to Spokane, where he continued to foster close relationships with his dad and mom, aunts, uncles and cousins. He enjoyed time camping, hunting and fishing near Colville, Washington and at the old Cooper family homestead, near Moyie Springs / Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He attended Field Elementary and Rogers High School. 
At 16, Archie and his cousin, Floyd Cooper, were involved in a car accident on Crestline Ave., leaving Archie in a coma for over a week.  At 18, he and his uncle, Dallas Carlisle, drove to Arizona to work in the cotton fields.  While driving across the open deserts they sang, “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” with Roy Rogers blaring on the radio, which remained one of Archie’s favorite songs through the years.
After, returning to Spokane, he enjoyed spending evenings downtown, “cruising Riverside” and working on cars in the shop that he and his dad built.  He met the love of his life, Evelyn Neilson, at an ice cream fountain on Francis Ave. It was love at first sight. They dated for over 3 years, enjoying many fun times together, including trips to Nat Park and drive in movies. They married on June 16, 1956 and had 3 children, Debra, Gary, and Randy.
Archie was a faithful loving husband, father and grandfather.  He enjoyed spending time with family, friends, and his dogs, boating, camping, fishing and traveling.  He fulfilled his dream of traveling the Alcan, Alaskan Highway with Evelyn and their dogs in his new red Dodge dually pickup truck, camp trailer in tow.  Archie took pride in his yard and home, keeping both pristine.  He was very talented with woodworking and carpentry, and took pleasure in building toy cars, go carts, barns, doll houses, game boards and many other things.  He was also very gifted in drawing,  mechanics, and over all problem solving.  He loved doing crafts, working puzzle books, and putting puzzles together.
Archie blessed others with his unique gift for teaching and sharing his knowledge and excitement in whatever interested him at the time.  Known as somewhat of a thrill seeker, he especially loved taking the grandkids down the Alpine slides.  He taught faith in God and a love of life that brought comfort, joy and laughter to all those around him with his quick wit, sarcasm, sense of humor and story telling.  Archie stressed a good work ethic, get your work done and then play, and be sure to make time for both. 
He was considered a “Jack of all trades,” excelling at many different jobs through the years, including, house moving, sawmills, carpentry, Kaiser Aluminum, flour mill, construction, painter and maintenance man at St Luke’s Hospital, mechanic and bus driver at Spokane City Bus Lines, and a truck driver, until he settled into his career at Western Fruit/BNSF Railroad in Hillyard, where he welded, did mechanical refrigeration and became a foreman. When the Hillyard shop closed and relocated to Portland Oregon, Archie followed his job, moving his family to the Portland area for 20 years.
Soon after retirement, he suffered a major heart attack and had open heart surgery.  After his recovery, he and Evelyn moved back to Spokane to be close to family and friends, moving into the house Archie had drawn the blueprints for and built with his Dad years before.  There, they hosted many family gatherings.  Archie gave his life to his Lord, Jesus Christ and remained steadfast in his faith for the rest of his life. Always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need, he served faithfully as a deacon at North Addison Baptist Church, until his illness. Archie leaves behind a legacy of love, faith and laughter.  He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Archie was preceded in death by his parents, great-granddaughter; Eleona Asbury, sister-in-laws; Joan Lewis and Julia West, brother-in-law; Eli Rapaich. He leaves behind his wife Evelyn, of 66 years, children; Debra (Ernest) Asbury, Gary (Cindy) Cooper and Randy Cooper, grandchildren; Aaron (Jedidah) Asbury, Brandon (Wendy) Asbury, Christopher (Desiree) Asbury, Katrina Doty, Angela Asbury, Joshua (Isabella) Asbury; Tania (Joseph) Dotson, Jeremiah (Hannah) Cooper; Brittany Cooper, and Cole Cooper.  great-grandchildren; Evangeline, Benjamin, Jude, and Luke Asbury; Elisha, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, and Evelina Asbury; Alex and Ashley Asbury; Andrew, William, and Paul Doty; soon to be born Archie Asbury; John, Lilly, Isla and Elizabeth Dotson; Levi and Henry Cooper; step great-grandchildren; Shaloma, Yosiah, Micah, and Ahava McCay; great-great granddaughter; Violet Asbury, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws; Ron, Bill, Richard and Tom Neilson, Ray West, Patricia and Clyde Matlock, Elaine Rapaich, cousins; Ruth Lewis, Beverly DeWitt, Janet Carlisle, Billy Swagart and numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and friends and all those whose lives he touched.  His memory will be cherished forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
The family would like to thank all the dedicated health care workers and hospice for their love and care. 

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 14 from 2-5 p.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home, 4305 North Division St. Spokane, WA.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 15 at 11 a.m. at North Addison Baptist Church, 6120 North Addison St., Spokane, WA.
Archie will be laid to rest on Tuesday, April 18, at 12:30 p.m. at Fairmont Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Addison Baptist Church.