Wayne Cooper, 64

Wayne William Cooper, age 64, passed away Jan. 27, 2023, at his residence in Polson. He was born on Jan. 15, 1959, to Alice (Combs) and Donald Cooper in Missoula. He was the sixth of eight children.

His father moved the family to Lewistown in 1968 to open a lumber mill, where Wayne and his siblings helped after school. This is where his lumber mill career began.

Wayne worked at Plum Creek in Pablo for over 20 years until it closed and then at Cavalar Lumber in Spokane for about seven years before coming back home to Polson. He was very proud of his planer work.

Wayne loved to fish, as he would say, “born to fish, forced to work.” He was also an avid basketball player. He played all through high school at St. Leo’s in Lewistown and then college in Sitka, Alaska. He would play two nights a week with friends at Linderman gym and, of course, brought his kids along. He even won the slam dunk contest at Hoopfest in the early 90s.

Wayne met the love of his life, Carol, in 1987 and they were married Dec. 31, 1988. Soon their first child was born, Tisha, in September of 1989. Then in 1991 they welcomed their son, Kyle. He was very proud of his kids.

Wayne was the life of the party; his smile and laugh will be remembered forever.

Wayne is preceded in death by his brother, Roger, father Don, and mother Alice. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Carol; his children Tisha (Cole) Gordon and Kyle (Kelli) Cooper; his three precious granddaughters, Hayden Gordon, and Harper and Eleanor Cooper, who he loved so much; his siblings, Donnie Cooper, Jack (Roxie) Cooper, Doug (Lori) Cooper, Bonnie (Dave) DaRold, Janet Cooper and Howard Cooper; and many special cousins and nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to all who provided medical care for him for the last four years.

A service will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Polson on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at 2 p.m. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com.

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.