2018 September COLONY Magazine

Greyhound For Life
Photo by Rick Evans
Service For a Lifetime
Wayne Cooper Leaves Behind Big Shoes to Fill
By Nic Mattson
He was a mountain of a man with a deep
and gentle soul. Hundreds of friends
and family gathered together on Aug. 7
to celebrate the life of Wayne Everett Cooper
(1944-2018) at Colony Park Community
Center in Atascadero.
The gymnasium was filled with orange and
grey shirts on folks walking around sharing memories,
laughter, tears, and hugs. Outside, many of
those closest to Wayne cooked the meal to be
served. Wayne spent many years cooking as a part
of the Bones BBQ crew, and was given the day off
in honor and respect.
Wayne was born a Greyhound, and his final
breath was taken on the all-weather track
he helped build at Atascadero High School’s
Memorial Stadium. On Wednesday, Aug. 1,
after pulling a regular volunteer shift at the final
All Comers Track and Field meet of the
season, Wayne helped his friend Donn Clickard
carry supplies in their little red wagon back
to the truck.
When they reached the edge of the track, he
and Donn went to pick the wagon up over the
curb, as they had done so many times before, but
something moved to make certain Wayne never
stepped foot off that track again.
“He was there, and then he wasn’t,” Donn said
about witnessing his best friend pass away just a
couple feet away.
The noise of hundreds of attendees
was gone from the meet,
and now the belly laugh of one
of Atascadero’s most notable
characters was to be just an echo
in the minds and hearts of those
fortunate enough to have heard it.
Luckily, Wayne spent a lot of
time helping others, so he shared
his laughter quite often.
Undoubtedly incomplete, the
list of Wayne’s service positions
include AHS sophomore class
president, student body vice
president, student body president,
school district board trustee,
SLO County Planning Commissioner,
an active member of the
Atascadero Elks Club, supporter of FFA and
4-H programs, Atascadero Chamber of Commerce
board, president of Atascadero Greyhound
Foundation and co-founder of LIGHTHOUSE
Atascadero.
Wayne was also the patriarch of a large local
family of Coopers that includes three sons, a
daughter, and 16 grandchildren.
During Wayne’s service in August, three of his
grandsons spoke to the friends and family gathered.
Everett spoke about his grandfather going to
any length to help, with a story about Wayne and
his wife Diana driving 12 hours to help Everett
move out of his dorm at Arizona State University
— a 20-minute endeavor — and then driving
12 hours home. Alex spoke to his grandfather’s
unconditional support, win or lose. Creston related
the tale of the boy throwing starfish into
the ocean … because making a difference to even
one life is significant.
Donn took the podium and spoke to the
friendship and support Wayne gave him.
“Wayne was one of the finest people [we] had
the opportunity to have known and loved,” Donn
said. “His commitment to his family cannot be
overstated. Wayne’s work has been to the benefit
of the youth of Atascadero.”
Wayne Cooper
Contributed Photo
Donn followed
with quotes by others,
including Wayne’s
granddaughter Charlotte,
who said “Papa
swings me just the right
height on the spiderweb
swing.”
At 73 years old,
Wayne gave more than
his share and the community
response to his
passing proved it was a
life well-lived.
He was called a
“One-of-a-kind treasure
of a human being”
and “a rock and very essence
of integrity” who left behind “hard shoes to
fill” and was an “example for all.”
Donn summed up his oration with the encouragement
to all present to “try to swing each other
just the right height on the spiderweb swing.”
“For me, Wayne was the model of dependability,
a steady influence in my life,” Donn said. “He
epitomized the meaning of friendship, loyalty,
intelligence and common sense.”
Donn served the community alongside Wayne
for more than 25 years and out of all Donn’s confidants,
Wayne was most influential.
“Wayne was my go-to guy,” Donn said. “He
was always so clear in his answers. He responded
specifically to my question succinctly, and it was
not necessarily what I wanted to hear. It is trite
to say, but he was always thinking about what was
best for the kids. I don’t really remember a time
when I didn’t do exactly what he said.”
Like his laugh, the quiet and thoughtful depths
of Wayne Cooper will always echo in the hearts
and minds of those familiar with him.
The family of Wayne Cooper has asked those
who wish to give in Wayne’s honor, to give to
the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation at
atascaderogreyhoundfoundation.org, or P.O. Box
3120, Atascadero, CA 93423.
20 | colonymagazine.com COLONY Magazine, September 2018