Jacob Gary Cooper
03/03/1945-09/22/2025
Biography
Jacob Gary Cooper was born on March 3, 1945 in Larned, Kansas. His parents were Ethyl Corrine (Miller) Cooper and Gerald Raymond Cooper. “Gary” passed away on September 22, 2025 at Lake Regional Hospital, Osage Beach Missouri.
He is survived by his wife Jane Ann (Shaffer) Cooper, two sons Gary Raymond Cooper and Bradley James Cooper, and grandson Dylan Jacob Cooper and granddaughter Kayla. He also has 4 brothers and a sister living around the country. Jane and Gary were married April 11, 1968 in Wichita Kansas.
Gary was a salesman of the most extraordinary kind. At the age of 8, he began selling donuts on a route in his neighborhood. In junior high, he bought candy and resold it (for a profit) to his classmates. In high school he worked at Pepsi Cola in Wichita, Kansas loading trucks before and after school.
After high school he enrolled in the United States Air Force and proudly served for four years from 1963 to 1967. He returned from Vietnam in August of 1967 and went to work for Pepsi as a route salesman. He quickly rose to the position of top salesman and was promoted to management. He did not like being out of the sales end of the business and began working for Schwans Sales Enterprises. In six months he was their top selling employee and was once again promoted to management. He left Schwans and began his own business in Wichita, Beverage Service Company, selling Pepsi products to local businesses and offices. In 1982, he starting working for Mobile Instrument Services and bought his first territory. After 40 years servicing hospitals and clinics in 9 states he retired and lived his life with Jane in Laurie, Missouri at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Gary was an avid diver with 250 dives logged in his book. He loved and collected wine and has an extensive wine cellar that contained around 1800 bottles. He belonged to the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club and the Elks Lodge in Laurie
Gary worked every day to give his family and friends the best possible life. He loved his family, friends and pets with a true heart and fierce loyalty. He will be remembered as a warrior in spirit and soul.
He is survived by his wife Jane Ann (Shaffer) Cooper, two sons Gary Raymond Cooper and Bradley James Cooper, and grandson Dylan Jacob Cooper and granddaughter Kayla. He also has 4 brothers and a sister living around the country. Jane and Gary were married April 11, 1968 in Wichita Kansas.
Gary was a salesman of the most extraordinary kind. At the age of 8, he began selling donuts on a route in his neighborhood. In junior high, he bought candy and resold it (for a profit) to his classmates. In high school he worked at Pepsi Cola in Wichita, Kansas loading trucks before and after school.
After high school he enrolled in the United States Air Force and proudly served for four years from 1963 to 1967. He returned from Vietnam in August of 1967 and went to work for Pepsi as a route salesman. He quickly rose to the position of top salesman and was promoted to management. He did not like being out of the sales end of the business and began working for Schwans Sales Enterprises. In six months he was their top selling employee and was once again promoted to management. He left Schwans and began his own business in Wichita, Beverage Service Company, selling Pepsi products to local businesses and offices. In 1982, he starting working for Mobile Instrument Services and bought his first territory. After 40 years servicing hospitals and clinics in 9 states he retired and lived his life with Jane in Laurie, Missouri at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Gary was an avid diver with 250 dives logged in his book. He loved and collected wine and has an extensive wine cellar that contained around 1800 bottles. He belonged to the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club and the Elks Lodge in Laurie
Gary worked every day to give his family and friends the best possible life. He loved his family, friends and pets with a true heart and fierce loyalty. He will be remembered as a warrior in spirit and soul.