Herbert Cooper

Herbert L. Cooper, 73, of Troy, died in his sleep at St. John's Lutheran Hospital.

Herb was born in Seattle on April 14, 1933, to John and Grace Cooper, the second of seven children.

Herb was a deckhand, then captain of tug boats on Puget Sound for many years, working for American Tow Boat Co. and Pacific Tow Boat Co., later known as Foss Launch & Tug and Dillingham Cos. of Everett, Wash. He also founded and owned a log rafting business, Totem Boom Company Inc., providing log rafting services in Everett, Tacoma and Bellingham, Wash., for more than 25 years.

Herb married the former Carol Allen in Everett on Sept. 22, 1951. Their children are Allen, Art and Dave and Bonnie Kittleson, all of Troy. They have 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved mountain hiking and horseback rides, and gardening. Most of all, he was a much-loved family man who was always there for anyone who needed him. He will be missed by all who loved and knew him.

He is survived by his wife; children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; brothers Porter Cooper and his wife, Donna, of Marysville, Wash., Charles Cooper and his wife, Patricia, of Everett, Wash., and Terry Cooper and wife, Pat, of Centralia, Wash.; sisters Dorothy McKerney and her husband, Art, of Edmonds, Wash., Irene Bourdeau and her husband, Jim, of Del City, Okla., and Thelma Shoemaker and her husband, Jim, of Everett, Wash., brother-in-laws Earl Allen and his wife, Harriet, of Milwaukee, Ore., and Bob Nees of Portland, Ore.; and many friends including Kellie Hudson.

At his request, there will be no services. Herb loved God's creation and dedicated his life to making this a better place for all of us.