Gerry B. Cooper

Judge Gerry B. Cooper, 69 of Garland, TX, passed away Thursday, January 6,2022.

He was born on November 20, 1952, to Gerald and Doris Cooper. He was the oldest of 3 children, and was a big brother to Susan and Kim. Gerry is preceded in death by his father, Gerald B. Cooper, Senior.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 47 years, Brenda Fetzer Cooper, daughter Kate and husband J.T. Walker, daughter Cara and husband Matt Prestenberg, and daughter Kristin and husband Justin Erspamer. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren; Addison and Emery Walker, Sophia, Scarlett and Stella Prestenberg, and Cooper, Charlotte, Cecilia and Camden Erspamer. He is also survived by his mother, Doris Cooper Daniel, his sister Susan and brother in law Mike Boulden, and his sister Kim and brother in law James Schnitker, his sister in law Bonnie Robbins, and his brother in law, Mark and sister in law Debbie Fetzer. Gerry also dearly loved his 9 nieces and nephews, Beth, Emily, and Sarah Boulden, Laura, Andrew, and Michael Schnitker, Scott Ayers, and Russell and Rebecca Fetzer.

Gerry graduated from Garland High School in 1971. He was a Garland Owl through and through and continued to bleed black and gold even after graduation. After high school, he attended Southern Methodist University where he majored in business and graduated in spring of 1974. He married Brenda Fetzer soon after in May of 1974. He was a lifelong Mustang, and returned to SMU in 1990 where he earned his Juris Doctorate. At SMU's Dedman Law School, he received the certificate of merit for faithful services as Magister of Montieth Inn, the international legal fraternity Phi Delta Phi.

He began his career in real estate at Cooper Realty in 1974 in downtown Garland. He was a staple in the downtown Garland area, and helped many people purchase homes, as well as hosted many Garland Labor Day parade post parties. After he graduated from law school in 1993, he began his 2nd career at Kelsoe, Anderson, Khoury and Clark law firm. In 1998, he opened his own law firm back in downtown Garland. In 2001, he ran for Justice of the Peace in Dallas County. He served as the Garland Justice of the Peace from 2001-2015. He was able to retire in 2015 to spend more time as a Papa with his grandkids. When he was not working, he enjoyed reading, Garland Owl and SMU Mustang football, running 7 marathons, playing dominoes or cards with his friends, watching movies, and lounging on the beach with a cold Coors Light or a Tanqueray and tonic.

When he was not working or playing, Gerry still managed to find time to volunteer on several boards and committees, including the Garland Board of Realtors, the Dallas Central Appraisal District Review Board, Board of Visual Aid Volunteers, the Board of Baylor Medical Center of Garland, and the GISD Multi-Ethnic Committee to name a few. He was a member of the Texas Bar Association, Garland Bar Association, Garland Chamber of Commerce and Garland Rotary Club.

He will be remembered as a generous, loving, and wonderful father, husband, and Papa. His love for others and for Jesus Christ will continue on in the lives he touched.

CORRECTION TO ORIGINAL SERVICE TIME 1:00 PM IS CORRECT TIME FOR FUNERAL SERVICE

Funeral services will be held at First Christian Church, Garland on Saturday, January 15th at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be at Charles Smith Funeral Home in Sachse on Friday, January 14th from 4:00-7:00 pm. The family requests that memorials may be made to First Christian Church Garland.