The Rev. Allen William Cooper (Fr. Bill)

The Rev. Allen William Cooper Jr., (Fr. Bill) age 82, of Saranac Lake, NY, died Thursday, December 19, 2024 at his home.

Born in Syracuse, New York on November 30, 1942, he was the son of Allen and A. June (Fadden) Cooper. Bill married Margo Lee Kelsey on Saturday, July 23, 1966 in North Syracuse, NY. 

He received is Bachelors of Education at Sunny Cortland and a Masters of Divinity at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University. In 1968 Bill and his wife Margo built a small cabin in Onchiota, NY where they spent many wonderful years enjoying their time there. Eventually, they donated the property to the 6 Nations Iroquois Cultured Center in Onchiota. Bill became an Episcopal Priest in 1970 and together they served churches in the Finger Lakes region, Horseheads, NY, Greece, NY, Elizabethtown and Essex, NY, Glens Falls, NY and Tupper Lake, NY. Fr. Bill served as the Episcopal Evangelism Consultant, for the Diocese of Albany and Central NY, and the Evangelism Chair for the Dioceses of Albany, Central New York, and Rochester. He also served as the Spiritual Director for clergy and their families for the Diocese of Albany. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls, Pastoral Care Coordinator for High Peaks Hospice in its formative years, and a volunteer for the Friendship Crew for Mercy Care for the Adirondacks. He also was a 3rd Order of Franciscan of the Holy Cross, Episcopal Diocese of Albany.

He is survived by his wife Margo of Saranac Lake and one daughter Rebekah Kathleen Cooper (David Bayles- predeceased) of Plattsburgh. He is also survived by one brother Gerald Cooper of Liverpool, one sister-in-law Dorothy Cooper of Fairport, NY, two brother-in-law’s Jim Blaisel of Jay, NY and John Kelsey of Clay, NY and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, one son William Carroll Cooper, one brother Robert G. Cooper and one sister Kathleen R. Blaisel.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A funeral service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday January 25. 2025 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Saranac Lake, with a reception to immediately follow in parish hall 

Friends wishing to remember The Rev. Allen William Cooper Jr. may make memorial contributions to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, High Peaks Hospice or the Tri-Lakes Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories online at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.