Forever a gentleman
LOVED by most, respected by many and forever remembered by all who knew him.
Les Cooper was not only a man of wisdom and knowledge, he was never short of a smile and always up for a good time.
Family and friends will tomorrow farewell Mr Cooper after he died on Saturday night after a fall at his unit.
At 92 years old, he lived a life bursting with stories.
Dear friend and nephew to Mr Cooper, Les Meiklejohn said his uncle would be greatly missed.
"I was named after him; I am Les Thomas George and he was Les Thomas," Mr Meiklejohn said.
"He was such a happy soul and to many he was known as 'Laughing Les'.
"He was just always in good cheer."
Mr Meiklejohn said it was Mr Cooper's morals and approach to life that made him the man he was.
"I always respected him greatly because he always stuck to his principles and was always happy to have a good time."
"He was my favourite uncle," he said.
One of Mr Cooper's friends, Ron Bryant, said it was a tragic loss to see Mr Cooper leave the world.
"He was just a gentleman. One of nature's complete gentlemen," Mr Bryant said.
He and Mr Cooper had been friends for more than 50 years, in that time shared many memories.
"He joined the Hope Masonic Lodge in Allora in 1946 and was a very well-respected freemason," Mr Bryant said.
Mr Cooper was a former Singapore prisoner of war and battled illness of all sorts while fighting for his country.
He experienced things most can only read about in textbooks.
He lived independently by himself right up until the end, and was a well-respected member of the Warwick Bowls Club.
He was a modern day hero, a beloved father, devoted uncle and loyal friend.
Rest in peace, Les Cooper.
Funeral
Family and friends are invited to attend Les' funeral tomorrow, to be held at St Mark's Anglican Church, Warwick.
The service will begin at 10am, followed by interment at Eden Gardens Memorial Park.
