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Dr. Morris Cooper, Sr.​
October 27, 1943 (Norton, VA) - December 18, 2016 (Springfield, IL)

Parents: William F. and Virginia Davidson Cooper
Spouse: Virginia Morton Huff Cooper
Children: Morris D. Cooper, Jr. and William Bales Cooper
High School Attended: Coeburn High School, Coeburn, VA
College Attended: King College, Briston, TN
Post Graduate School: Tennessee Technological University (M.S.)
​University of Georgia (Ph.D), Harvard University (Post-Doctoral Fellowship)
Occupation: Professor and Medical Researcher (Microbiology) - SIU School of Medicine
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Obituary:
Morris Davidson Cooper, Sr., 73, of Springfield, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at his home.

Morris was born in Norton, VA, the son of William F. and Virginia Davidson Cooper. He married Virginia Morton Huff on June 10, 1967 in London, KY.

Morris obtained a bachelor's degree from King College in 1965, a master's degree from Tennessee Technological University in 1967, a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 1971, and served his post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University from 1971-1972. He then went to work for SIU School of Medicine from its inception until his retirement in 2012 as Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology. He was also Associate Director for Basic Research of Simmons Cancer Institute. Morris was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder, deacon, and Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 11. He later served as Council President and Executive Board Member of Abraham Lincoln Council of Boy Scouts of America. Morris was proud to be an Eagle Scout, and was a recipient of both the Silver Beaver and the Silver Antelope awards. He enjoyed traveling, collecting Boy Scout memorabilia, and he cherished his two grandsons.

Morris was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Springfield; sons, Morris D. (Elizabeth) Cooper, Jr. of Springfield and William (Rhian) Cooper of Flower Mound, TX; grandchildren, Caden and Gethin Cooper; siblings, Nancy Sue Tabor of Gatlinburg, TN and Mary Lynn (Steve) Felsberg of Columbia, SC.

Visitation: Family received friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th Street, Springfield.

Memorial Ceremony: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 23, 2016 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, Springfield, IL 62704, Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer officiant. Inurnment followed the ceremony at Westminster Presbyterian Memorial Garden.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Abraham Lincoln Council of Boy Scouts of America, 5231 S. 6th Street Frontage Road E, Springfield, IL 62703.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church
533 S. Walnut Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
 217-522-4415