The family of Jeff Coop mourns the passing of a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and husband on January 31, 2019.
Born November 9, 1981, Jeff graduated in 2000 from Fernandina Beach High School, where he excelled in music and JROTC. He was also known for his numerous artistic and engineering abilities. After graduation, he briefly attended Santa Fe Community College until he felt the call to serve his country after 9/11, joining the military and serving as staff sergeant in both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. While in the United States Air Force, where he flourished in a rewarding graphic arts and air traffic control career, he commanded an honor guard unit. After leaving the Air Force, he joined the Army, serving in Iraq, where he was wounded and later medically discharged. Following his discharge, he then embarked on an educational path, leading him to a degree in political science from Texas A&M, where he served on the alumni board. At the time of his passing, Jeff was in his first year of teaching 11th grade U.S. history at Copperas Cove High School in Copperas Cove, Texas.
He is remembered as an amazingly gifted and humorous person who loved fiercely and cared immensely for others and animals.
Jeff was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, James L. and Louise Brown (Cook).
He is survived by his parents, Ed and Debbie Coop, his sisters, Jessica Coop and Julie (Will) Barcus, and his paternal grandparents, Ed and Rosemary Coop, all of Fernandina Beach, Fla; and his wife, Melanie Coop (Biddle) of Florence, Texas.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach. The family will receive guests afterward in the home of Cheryl and Stephen Erdmann at 86161 Keeping Road in Yulee, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to K9s for Warriors at https://www.k9sforwarriors.org or 114 Camp K9 Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081.