Monte “Money” Trevino Cooper of Tuckerman, Arkansas, formerly of Farmington, Arkansas transitioned from earth to glory surrounded by his parents on the family farm in Tuckerman Arkansas, in the early morning of January 8, 2025. He was born February 5, 1972, in Newport, Arkansas, the son of Barsha Cooper Porter and Lewis Gillespie.
With the union of his mother to his stepfather Sammy Porter, Monte moved to Tuckerman, Arkansas where he was raised on the family farm. His early upbringing instilled in him work ethic and agriculture knowledge; skills which he carried with him throughout his life.
He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at New Hope Baptist Church of Tuckerman. He attended Tuckerman School district and was involved in many school activities such as basketball and music club. He graduated from Tuckerman High School in 1990.
After graduation, Monte was continuously employed in the poultry industry with his last employer being Simmons Food, Inc. He kept a job because in his words “I love money”. He was married to his wife, Charlotte till her passing in March of 2024.
Monte had several hobbies including fishing and gambling; although he said it wasn’t gambling if you knew what you were doing – it was hustlin. In his younger years, he loved to play baseball and basketball and as an adult, he loved watching sports. His favorite sports teams were the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, and the University of Alabama football team. He liked Alabama because he said he had made a lot of money off them over the years. Monte will be remembered for his brutally honest sense of humor and the joy, laughter, and smiles he brought to those who loved and knew him. He was truly a memorable character.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Dash Cooper, maternal grandparents, Henry and Rosa Cooper, paternal grandmother, Ruthie Gillespie, step-grandmother Lougene Ridley, and a host of beloved uncles, aunts, and cousins.
He leaves to cherish his memory his mother Barsha Porter and stepfather, Sammy Porter of Tuckerman; his father, Lewis Gillespie of Augusta, Arkansas; two brothers, Payton Porter of Russellville, Arkansas and Samuel Porter of Tuckerman, Arkansas; two sisters, Sandra A. Porter of Charlotte, North Carolina and Detra (Anthony) Opoku of St Louis, Missouri; ten uncles, Charles (Jackie) Cooper of Las Vegas, Nevada, Marques Cooper of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ricky Moore of McCrory, Arkansas, Rickie (Lisa) Gillespie of Augusta, Arkansas, Charles (Glenda) Porter of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Henry Porter and Shadrach Porter both of Tuckerman, Arkansas, Tom Porter of St. Louis, Missouri, and Archie (Sarah) Porter of Memphis, Tennessee; ten aunts, Gloria Thompson of Diaz, Arkansas, Henrietta Abshire of Louisville, Kentucky, Jean Ann (Samuel) Dean and Sandra (Otis) Bailey of Newport, Arkansas, Pamela (Billy) Matthews of Little Rock, Arkansas, Deborah (Levern) Tillman of Jessup, Georgia, Donna Cooper of Jacksonville, Arkansas, Stephanie Corley of West Memphis, Arkansas; Mary Ridley and Nancy Porter of Memphis, Tennessee; three nieces and one nephew; and a host of cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at Jackson’s Funeral Home Chapel. Friends may visit at the funeral home Wednesday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Interment will be in Gum Grove Cemetery.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
