Lonnie "Lonny" Cooper

Obituary For Lonnie "Lonny" Cooper

Lonnie Cooper — or “Lonny,” depending on when you knew him — passed away
unexpectedly on June 10, 2025, at the age of 60. He was a kind, laid-back man known for
his steady presence, creative spirit, and the way he showed up for the people he loved.
Born in San Jose, California, on August 8, 1964, to Ruby Lee and Lowell Duane Cooper,
Lonny was the middle of five boys: Chuck, Jamie, Lonny, Antone, and Michael. In 1969,
when Lonny was five, the Cooper family set out to relocate to Alaska. During a stop to visit
family in Washington, they decided to stay and eventually settled in Acme, where Lonny
spent his childhood. He later moved to Bellingham, where he built his life, started a family,
and spent the rest of his years.
He attended Mt. Baker High School, later earning his GED and completing a motorcycle
mechanics course at Bellingham Technical College. In the early 1980s, Lonny and his
brother Jamie joined the National Guard as Combat Engineers and Bridge Specialists,
training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and serving from the Bellingham Armory.
He met Joanna Biasini at Allsop in 1984, where they worked together on the assembly line.
They married on August 16, 1986, and went on to welcome two children: Brianna Helene
(1989) and Riley Dewitt (1992). His kids were, without a doubt, the greatest joys and
proudest accomplishments of his life.
Lonny lived fully and hands-on. He worked hard all his life and wasn’t afraid to get dirty or
try something new. He spent time as a commercial fisherman, even building and
customizing his own boat. He drove long-haul trucks for his brother Chuck’s company,
worked several years at Bellingham Millworks, and later became a valued member of the
Dawson Construction family starting in 2006. He was the guy you could count on to figure it
out, build it from scratch, or patch it back together better than before. Whatever the job,
Lonny showed up ready to work.
He was a natural builder and problem-solver. As a woodworker, he created beautiful and
functional pieces — vanities, arbors, coffee tables, and more — often made as gifts for the
people he loved. He built Adirondack chairs for his in-laws and forged custom knives to
give to friends and family. Everything he crafted carried his care, attention, and generosity.
Over the years, Lonny had a wide range of interests — from playing roller and ice hockey, to
assistant coaching Riley’s youth hockey teams, drawing hilarious (often inappropriate)
doodles, tattooing, camping, and riding dirt bikes and motorcycles. He had a lifelong love
for heavy metal and even played bass guitar in a band with his brother Antone. In recent
years, Lonny fell deep into his gold prospecting hobby — and in true Lonny fashion, he
didn’t just dabble, he went all in. He customized his own sluice, studied techniques, and
spent countless hours trekking through the woods with his beloved dog Ollie by his side.
He even made trips out to his brother Michael’s property to pan the river running through
the backyard — a chance to strike gold and spend time with his little brother. He’d haul
back heavy buckets of dirt and moss to sift through at home after a long day of work,
always chasing the thrill of finding that shimmer. Like everything he did, Lonny poured his
heart into it.
And then there were his stories. Some of the best memories of Lonny were around a fire—
his friends and family gathered close as he launched into an animated, wildly detailed
retelling of a truck-driving haul gone awry, a near-miss while fishing in Alaska, or a
misadventure from his time in the military. Most of us have probably heard the “I am the
candy man, ain’t I sweet” story at least once. He brought every tale to life with sound
effects, hand gestures, and that signature laugh. He had a gift for telling a story in a way
that made you feel like you were right there with him. He told them like no one else could.
Lonny was one of a kind. Selfless. Talented. Dependable. Young at heart. A little bit of a
daredevil, and the kind of man who made everything around him better just by being there.
Everything Lonny touched seemed to turn to gold — not because of the materials, but
because of the intention, creativity, and love he put into it.
He leaves behind his daughter Brianna Wescott and her husband Cameron, his son Riley
Cooper and Riley’s longtime partner Jenn, and his grandchildren Charlie Rae Wescott and
Jayden Cooper, who brought him so much joy. He is also survived by his mother Ruby
Cooper, father Duane Cooper, and his four brothers: Chuck (Karen), Jamie (Clarice),
Antone (Joanie), and Michael (Autumn), who adopted his beloved adventure buddy, Ollie —
along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and coworkers who loved him like
family. His absence is deeply felt by all who knew him.
Lonny was cremated, as he wished. In memory of Lonny, we encourage everyone to pay
close attention to their health and take seriously any signs of heart trouble—like chest
discomfort, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue. A celebration of life will be held in the
near future, and details will be shared as plans are made. His family invites all who knew
and loved him to remember him in their own way – with a story, a smile, and maybe a cold
Bud in hand.

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