Jed Arthur Cooper

Jed Arthur Cooper
Panguitch, Utah

Dr. Jed Arthur “Art” Cooper passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on February 5, 2025, in St. George, Utah. He was born January 22, 1933, to Jeddie and Laverda (Montague) Cooper in their home in Panguitch, Utah, during a bitter snow storm.

 Art was an inquisitive, bright, and quick-witted child and teenager who loved learning and experiencing new things. Stricken with Rheumatic Fever at age six, he was limited in the pursuits typical of many of his friends in the outdoors and so developed a love for reading, art, conversation, and politics. He loved discussing politics and could carry on informed conversations with the adult politicians in town. As a young teenager he was invited to sit with the Garfield County Republican contingency at the State Convention.

 Growing up in Panguitch was forever at the core of who Art Cooper was. His love for the beauty of the valley and the surrounding mountains, lakes, and canyons was effusive and was only second to his love for the people of Panguitch—all of whom seemed to be his cousins!

Trout fishing, painting and photographing scenes from the area, and collecting and telling stories of the people with whom he had grown up, were a major part of his desire to return to Panguitch as soon as he could following his retirement. He loved everything about his boyhood experiences and the foundation it played in his life.

 Art attended local public schools in Panguitch and received his higher education at Stanford University, the University of Utah, and George Peabody College for Teachers (Vanderbilt University) culminating in receiving his PhD in Philosophy of Education.

 Art married Carol Joy Shirts of Escalante, in the St. George Temple on August 20, 1959. They were divorced in 1986.

 Art was a weather observer in the United States Air Force from 1956 until his election to the Utah State Legislature in 1958 where he served one term as the youngest legislator on record at the time. He taught languages at Bonneville High School in the Weber County, Utah school district for one year before pursuing additional higher education. He served on the education faculty at the University of Arizona, 1964-66, and was on the education faculty at the University of North Texas from 1966 until his retirement in 1998. In 1970, Art moved his family to Panama City, Panama, to be a Resident Consultant for the USAID Contract in Administrative and Curricular Reform at Santa Maria La Antigua University. Those 20 months in Panama served as an amazing cultural experience for all of the family. At the University of North Texas, Art was active in faculty governance and served several terms on the Faculty Senate. He also served on the University Planning Council. Art was a member of the Denton, Texas High Noon Lions Club and served for 10 years on the School Board for the Argyle ISD.

 An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Art served for 30 months in the Spanish-American Mission, 1953-56, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas and served as a counselor in the mission presidency. He often spoke fondly of being a missionary to the Spanish speaking people of Texas and his service instilled in him a life-long love for the foods, culture, heritage, and language of the Latino population. He remained fluent in all aspects of the Spanish language to the end of his life. He served as president of the Campus Branch, Tucson Arizona Stake, as a counselor in three bishoprics in Denton, Texas, and served many years on the High Council. He was long-remembered and loved by his students as a seminary teacher and as an institute instructor.

 After his retirement, Art was determined to move back from Texas to his beloved Panguitch—despite the mild objections of his children. While it was difficult to have Dad/Grandpa move 1,200 miles away, it became evident as the years passed that it was exactly what he needed and wanted. With his return to Panguitch, he immersed himself once again in the beauty of the area and with the people. Anyone who knew him well — and even complete strangers — would be treated to commentary from Art about the virtues of the area and all of the reasons why being there was one of the best things they could do. He became active in the

community by serving in various organizations which he felt were making the area he loved so dearly more available and more discoverable to all. His service included being elected to the City Council and then elected as “the oldest” mayor in Panguitch history. He also served with Meals on Wheels, volunteered at the Red Canyon Visitors Center, sat for 17 years on the Garfield

Memorial Hospital Board, served on the Scenic 12 Byway Committee and the Panguitch Main Street Committee. He was a member of the Panguitch Lions Club.

 As a family, we have witnessed his great joy at spending the last 25 years of his life back in a place he truly believed was the best spot on earth which helped foster his familiar statement when asked how he was doing of “never better”.

 While he will be deeply missed, it is of great comfort to us that because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, we know Dad is now reunited with his sweet parents, his dear daughter, Carmen, and many, many others of whom he has for years spoken longingly to see. We have all been blessed to have him as the patriarch of our family—father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. We will carry on and seek to emulate the qualities and

characteristics he embodied and instilled in all of us and to carry on the memory of “the two things I am most proud of are my testimony of the gospel and my progeny”.

 Jed Arthur Cooper is survived by his children: Christian A. Cooper (Tammy), Sherman, TX; Clifton J. Cooper (Eadie), Denton, TX; Carlton M. Cooper, Argyle, TX; and Carolyn J. Stacy (Lance), Corinth, TX; son-in-law, Darin Standiford, Blackfoot, ID. He is also survived by his sister, Toni Meeker, Guttenberg, NJ.

 He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Carmen Joy Standiford; and his loving parents. He has 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

 We express our deepest gratitude to all of the people of Panguitch and particularly to those individuals who have made Dad a part of their lives so personally and who have made it possible for him to stay in Panguitch to the very end.

 Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 11:00 am in the Panguitch 1st Ward Chapel. There will be a viewing prior to services from 9:00 - 10:30 am at the church. Interment will be in the Panguitch Cemetery with military honors.

Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook www.maglebymortuary.com

Live streaming can be found below Art’s obituary