Obituary of Elbert M. Cooper, Sr., 1974:
Father of local attorney. Elbert Cooper, Sr., dahlia raiser, dies.
Elbert M. Cooper, Sr., 61, father of Clinton attorney Elbert M. Cooper, Jr., and for many years an outstanding dahlia fancier, died at 1:07 a.m. Saturday in Oak Ridge Hospital.
He had been in the hospital since April 21. Cooper suffered from cancer.
He and his wife, Mrs. Lassie M. Cooper, resided at 906 McAdoo St., Clinton. He was a native of Campbell County.
Cooper worked as a body repairman and since 1964 had been employed at Valley Pontiac in Oak Ridge. At one time he was self-employed in Clinton and also had worked for retired automobile dealer Bob Moser in Clinton.
Until about three years ago, Cooper raised and showed prize dahlias. He had won numerous ribbons, principally at county fairs. He has had as many as 100 hills of the large flowering plants in his garden.
The Coopers recently had purchased a farm near Lake City and were planning to move there. They had built a small barn on the place.
Cooper was a member of First Baptist Church of Clinton. He was belonged to Alpha Lodge F&AM.
Elbert Cooper, Jr. resides in Knoxville, but will be moving to Clinton shortly. He formerly served as assistant district attorney general in Knox County and has worked for the Clinton Courier-News and the Knoxville Journal.
Besides his wife and son, he leaves another son, Richard T. Cooper of Knoxville; parents, the Rev.and Mrs. S. D. Cooper of Lenoir City; two grandchildren, Jonathan and Jodi Cooper; three brothers, Carl and N. H. Cooper, both of Lenoir City, and Morris Cooper of Chattanooga.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist of Clinton. The Rev. Hayward Highfill officiated. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Clinton Courier-News, May 3, 1974
[Transcribed by Stephanie A. Hill from a photocopy of the microfilm in the genealogy vertical files at Lake City Library.]