Preasley Paul Cooper, age 81, of Rochelle, Texas passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, February 5th. Preasley was born on February 3, 1944, to Henry Cooper and Grace (Washburn) Cooper in Odessa, Texas. Preasley was the baby of 7 children. His father passed away when Preasley was 12 and his older brothers (particularly Bill) stepped in as surrogate fathers. He grew up in Odessa attending Ector County public schools. He graduated from Ector High School in 1962 where he excelled in football and baseball. He was well thought of by his friends and classmates who elected him President of his senior class, most handsome, and Mr. Ector High School. His leadership skills were evident event then. Preasley received numerous athletic scholarship offers and eventually settled on the University of Houston where he was quarterback on the Cougars football team and the pitcher of their baseball team. Preasley earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Speech. He attended Sul Ross University where he earned his master’s degree in educational leadership.
Upon graduation he returned to Odessa to coach baseball alongside his high school baseball coach, Bob Pufal. He went on to coach at Bonham Jr. High in Odessa. He began his career in educational leadership there. Preasley had a passion for mentoring young students as well as teachers. Preasley served as an assistant principal at Crocket Junior High in Odessa, TX from 1989-1993. He moved to Brady where he became principal of Brady High School in 1994. He led Brady High School along with his best buddy, Stan Seymour, who was the assistant principal. He loved every moment of his time at Brady High School. Preasley retired from education in June of 2003 after influencing the lives of thousands of students and hundreds of teachers.
He married the love of his life, Nancy, on September 2, 1994. Together they traveled as often as possible, sometimes alone, but most often with family members and their grandchildren. He often commented that the most wonderful gift Nancy ever gave him was a family.
After retirement, Preasley loved taking care of his cattle, playing cowboy with his good buddy, Stan, playing lots of golf, and watching his grandchildren in hundreds of games of football, baseball, and volleyball, and well as some special nieces playing soccer. From 2009 until 2024, Preasley served as manager of the Rochelle Water District. It gave him one more opportunity to interact and love on people.
In 2014, he became a faithful member of Redeemer Church of Brady. The church and the people he worshipped with, all became another group of people that he loved, most importantly, his Pastor, Paden Behrens, a former student.
A Celebration of Life will be for Preasley at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Redeemer Church in Brady with Reverend Paden Behrens officiating. Friends may view and/or sign Preasley’s online memorial guest book at www.leatherwoodmemorialchapels.com.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy Cooper of the home; cherished daughter, Crystal Meyer, and her husband John of Uvalde, TX; loving sons, Michael Faulkner and his wife, Rebecca, of Rochelle, TX and Marcus Faulkner of Waco, TX and his wife, Amy who preceeded him in death on November 6, 2024; brother, Marshall Cooper of Lubbock, TX; sister, Clara Barr of Longview, TX; grandchildren Cody Faulkner and his wife, Destiny; Brady Faulkner and his wife, Maddy; Cooper Faulkner; Raelynn Faulkner; Brayden Faulkner; and great-grandchildren Owen and Beck; and two very special ladies, Haley Whitehead and Carley Dickinson that he loved like granddaughters as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Amy Faulkner; sister-in-law, Wanda Cooper; brothers, Bill Cooper, Marvin Cooper, and Jimmy Ray Cooper; and sister, Emma Cooper. Preasley was also surrounded by a host of loving friends who he counted as part of his family.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Amy Faulkner Memorial Scholarship in care of China Spring ISD, PO Box 250, China Spring, TX 76633, Hope from the Heart, PO Box 1207, Brady, TX 76825, or the Brady ISD Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1003 West 11th Street, Brady, TX 76825.