Lee Derrick Cooper, Sr., 63, of the Green Creek Community passed away on November 14, 2017 at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C.

Born to the late Eddie Lee and Betty Ann Moise Cooper, he grew up in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and moved to Bolivia, N.C. at the age of 18.  At the age of 21, he married the love of his life Mary Katherine Cooper and together, they had two sons. Lee worked for many years in sales and delivery for Pepsi in the Wilmington, N.C. area. He was known to many as “The Pepsi Man” and enjoyed meeting new people while working. Lee loved fishing, golfing, and taking motorcycle trips with his wife. One of Lee’s biggest loves in life was his two precious granddaughters, Kaylee and Brianna.

In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his father-in-law, John Bowling; his mother-in-law, Vernie Bowling; a special niece, Stephanie Bowling; and a special nephew, Roger Bowling.

Surviving is his wife of 42 years, Mary Katherine Bowling Cooper; two sons, Lee Derrick Cooper II, of the home, and Matthew Britt Cooper who married their later in life, handpicked daughter, Lindsay Cooper, of Green Creek, N.C., and two beautiful granddaughters, Kaylee and Brianna. Also surviving is a sister, Ann Bowling and her husband, Wayne of Bolivia, N.C.; a sister-in-law, Dianna Casturao of Mill Spring, N.C.; a number of nephews, and a niece.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the McFarland Funeral Chapel in Tryon, N.C., with Reverend John Bridges officiating.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel and Crematory
Tryon, N.C.