Earl Cooper, 86, of Orange, died Sunday, December 27, 2009.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2009, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Lynn Ashcraft and Mr. Cooper's grandson, Dr. Keith Manning.

Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange with Masonic rites under the auspices of Madison Lodge 126 AF & AM.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Cooper was born in Orange on August 10, 1923, the son of William Oscar and Martha O. Cooper.

He was a life long member of North Orange Baptist Church and for 52 years was a member of Madison Lodge 126 AF & AM. In 1971, he received his 32nd Degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Houston Consistory.

He was a US Army Veteran of WWII; a Chevron retiree; and in his younger years, was an avid fisherman.

Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by his first wife, Emma Cooper; daughter, Nancy Manning; and brothers, Johnny Cooper and Harold Cooper.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline Cooper of Orange; grandsons, Douglas E. Manning and his wife, Shelley, and their children, Robert and Mason, all of Orange, Dr. Keith Manning and his children, Aubrey and Trevor Manning, all of Hillsboro; and son-in-law, Jerry Manning and his wife, Sherry, of Orange.

Also surviving is his step son, Rick Thomisee and his wife, Rebecca, of Lumberton and their children, Damon Thomisee and his wife, Jacqui, of Dallas and Dustin Thomisee of Lumberton.