Obituary of Thomas E. Hooper

EDWARDS- Thomas Edward Hooper, age 63, of Edwards, passed away on Monday, August 5, 2013 at his home under the care of St. Lawrence Valley Hospice after a heroic battle with cancer. Calling hours will be on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00pm at French Funeral Home, Edwards. There will be calling hours from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9th at the funeral home with the funeral immediately following at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Hailesboro Cemetery with a gathering afterwards at the Golden Glow in South Edwards. Online condolences may be sent to www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Tom was born on January 19, 1950 in Tupper Lake, NY to the late Ernest and Ruth (Greenwood) Hooper. He graduated from Gouverneur Central School in 1969. Tom married Bonnie S. Backus on November 1, 1969 at the Gouverneur United Methodist Church with Rev. Stanley Brown officiating. Bonnie passed away on July 27, 2005. Tom married Bonnie M. (Beane) Davis on January 12, 2013 at their home in Edwards by the Justice of Peace. Tom worked in the skill trades at St. Lawrence University for 18 years from 1993 until his retirement in 2011. He had previously worked for the ZCA mines in Balmat for 16 years, working from 1972-1985. He also owned TLC Builders with Ken McGuiness and Charlie Johnson from 1985-1993. He enjoyed loving up his grandchildren and dog, Gidget, driving his 2013 Mustang, going to Dover Delaware NASCAR race and cheering on Mark Martin, woodworking, being outdoors, canoeing, fishing and hunting with his buddies, Ken and Scott. Tom is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Edwards; a daughter, Stephanie L. Hooper and her companion, Daniel Durham of Dekalb; a son, Andrew T. Hooper and his companion, Angie McCormick of Canton; two step sons, Arthur F. Davis III and his companion, Valerie Bailey of Hailesboro and Harold "Cooter" Davis and his companion, Kristen Nair of Lake Placid; a step daughter and her husband, Danielle and George Manning of Moiria; a brother and his wife, Reggie and Vicky Hooper of Canton; a sister and her husband, Beatrice and Charles Butler of Gouverneur; 4 grandchildren, Bradley, Michael, Troy and Renee and 9 step grandchildren, Scott, Brittany, Hunter, Dakota, Colden, Kyle, Josh, McKenzie and Alysen. Also, numerous sister and brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. Donations may be made in Tom's memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057.