James "Buddy" Edward Cooper

James Edward “Buddy” Cooper, 68, of Ellerbe, passed away Friday, February 6, 2015 at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham. Buddy was born January 12, 1947 in Edgewood, Maryland, a son of the late Herbert Edward and Laura Beatrice Dunn Cooper. He was a graduate of Ellerbe High School, Class of 1965. For over 20 years he was the owner of Cooper Appliance Repair and had retired from Lowe’s Home Improvement. Buddy was a former Mayor of Ellerbe and was currently serving on the Ellerbe Town Council. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Rodney Cooper. Surviving are his wife, Irene Smith Cooper of the home; daughters, Stephanie Cato (Jimmy) of Hamlet and Wendy Ammons (Jamie) of Rockingham; grandchildren, James “Jay” Ammons, Natalie Cato and Robert Ammons and a brother, Randy Cooper. A memorial service will be held at 6 pm Monday in the Ellerbe Chapel of Carter Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. James Brown and Chaplain Mike Hayden officiating. The family will see friends following the service at the funeral home and at other times at the home. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.