HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Tennessee Valley is mourning the loss of Johnny Marshall Cooper III, a beloved veteran who for over a decade served as the Patriot Guard Riders’ Ride Captain for the North Alabama District.
Cooper led hundreds of motorcycle rides after memorial services for veterans while helping to welcome current veterans back home with a salute.
“Always open arms whatever he could do, anything to help he was always there,” said Vickie Meader, a senior ride captain for the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR).
Known affectionately as “Coop”, he was a prominent member of the military community across North Alabama. The former Navy Seabees Construction Electrician and Petty Officer 3rd Class served his country in the Vietnam War.
The PGR honored hundreds of veterans under his watch over the years and for those who shared the road with him like fellow Navy Veteran Buster Mills, putting veterans first was Cooper’s life mission.
“It’s like losing a family member, ” Mills explained. “He was a mentor, brother, and dear friend to us all he implemented so many different things into everything.”
Mills who also serves as a ride captain for the PGR says Cooper leaves a void that’ll never be filled. Cooper is described as a humble man who put others before himself and made many community contributions.
“Coop was a very special guy he loved our veterans, he loved our veterans organizations, and our first responders organizations,” Meader said.
Meader tells News 19 their journeys won’t be the same without their leader who is leaving behind an everlasting legacy.
“We always say they stood for us now it’s our turn to stand for them and it’s not supposed to be this way he’s supposed to be here standing with us on all of these,” Meader said. “We’re going to have a lot of emotions we’re going to have a lot of tears but we’re going to have a lot of love too.”
Cooper’s memorial will be November 15 beginning with visitation at 9:30 a.m. at Berryhill Funeral Home and following the 11 a.m. service the PGR will escort their late ride captain to the Limestone Memorial Gardens in Athens.
