Charles McKinley Cooper, Jr., 81, died April 13, 2006, at Hutchinson Hospital.

He was born June 3, 1914, in Hutchinson, the son of Charles M. and Marguerite Elsie Heim Cooper, Sr. He graduated from Langdon High School. A longtime Hutchinson resident, he was a retired weighmaster for Farmland Industries.

He belonged to St. Paul's United Church of Christ, American Legion Lloyd F. Schroeder Post No. 200 and Sons of the American Legion, all in Holyrood. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6485, and the Masonic Lodge No. 146, both in Ellsworth. He served in the U.S. Navy, during World War II.

On April 21, 1958, he married Fern M. Smith in Nickerson. She died Dec. 9, 1996.

Survivors include: two sons, Charles Howard, Hutchinson, and Dutch Mannel, Holyrood; a brother; Joseph, Grand Island, Neb.; a sister, Leverna Burrow, Columbia, Tenn.; six grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a stepson, Robert Howard; a step daughter; Margaret Howard; a brother, Jackie Dean Cooper; an infant sister; and two sisters, Virginia Thomas and Lucille Drake.

Graveside will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, with Pastor Debra Rains presiding, with military graveside rites conducted by the Hutchinson-Reno Masonic Lodge, No. 124 AF&AM, and Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may sign the register from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

Memorials may be sent to the American Legion Post No. 200, in care of the funeral home.