TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular carpet shop owner whose kind nature “always shone through”.
Joseph Kevin Cooper, known to friends as Joe, ran J R Carpets in Rhyl. He died suddenly at his home in Prestatyn on January 24 with his loved ones beside him including his partner Lynne Lloyd, his brother Wayne Cooper and Wayne’s partner Rachel Evans.
Joe, 50, was described as an “extraordinary showman”. He was a “larger than life character”, sometimes a comedian, sometimes a clown, but always the charmer”.
Since his brother’s death, Wayne has received more than 1,000 messages of condolences from people around the world.
Wayne with his older brother Joe (right)
Joe was interested in Militaria, particularly in First World War and Second World War stories and history. He visited numerous battle venues all over the world and attended memorials including Arnham and Normandy annually where he accumulated an enormous amount of friends.
Younger brother Wayne said: “He was always so kind hearted, generous and never unhappy, it was almost infectious. I have never had anyone in my life say a bad word about Joe because there simply wasn’t one.”
Joe was very popular
Wayne told a moving story which he only discovered from his father, Joseph Cooper, after a thank you note was posted to the shop following the loss of Joe.
“I asked my father if he knew what this note was about, a thank you for the great ‘free carpet’.
“He said that a lady had popped into the shop and enquired about the thickest carpet Joe had. This was over budget for the lady and Joe asked what the carpet was needed for. It turned out that a family member had an illness and the thickest carpet possible would ease the pain.
Joe opened JR Carpets when he was aged 24
“We have recently found out since Joe’s passing that he actually gifted the carpet to the family which sums my brother up to a tee.”
Joe was born in Wrexham Maelor Hospital to Caroline and Joseph Cooper. Brother Wayne was born when Joe was aged nine.
He lived in Nantwich until the age of 16 before moving to Prestatyn to be near family roots.
He worked alongside his father in the family business for the next eight years and married when he was 24.
He opened JR Carpets and worked there until he died. The business is still trading and will continue to do so for the ‘foreseeable future’ with the help of Tristan, Joe’s good friend and fitter of 15 years.
Joe (right) is all smiles
Joe divorced at 27 but continued to stay in touch with his brother-in-law who remained good friends.
Wayne added: “Myself, my mother Caroline and my father Joe would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming messages of condolences at this sad time.”
Joe’s funeral will be held at Prestatyn Catholic Church at 1pm on Tuesday, February 12.
Joe was interested in Militaria, particularly in First World War and Second World War stories and history
This will be followed by burial at Coed Bell Gronant. A procession will take Joe through Prestatyn and Rhyl town centre and past his shop on Vale Road at about 12.45pm.
A fundraising page for Help the Heroes has been started in Joe’s memory. Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wayne-cooper7.
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