Stephen Edward Cooper

Born on September 3rd, 1950 in Detroit “Motor City” Michigan - Stephen Cooper was the beloved 3rd son of Ernie and Virginia Cooper. At the tender age of 18 months old, little Steve with older brothers Jimmy and Johnny drove from Michigan to settle in Chula Vista and put down roots in California. The one-bedroom 1948 homestead on Hilltop Drive was too snug for their growing family but was soon expanded with the help of Grandpa Cooper, a carpenter by trade. Steve grew up in Chula Vista, learning how to hunt in Rice Canyon and how to camp (with a keen interest in mountaineering & rock climbing) with the Sierra Club. He graduated from Hilltop High School in 1968 and enrolled at Southwestern College, but left shortly thereafter when he met and married Ilene McKirahan on August 3rd,1969. Using his natural creative talent and innate craftmanship, Steve supported his little family of girls – wife Ilene & daughters Jessica and Roselle by making and selling his own designs in brass and silver jewelry up and down the southern California coast. 

Steve had the gift of teaching himself whatever he wanted to learn. He learned to make mountaineering gear, silver jewelry and even learned computer programming with some of the first generation computers. Self-employed for most of his adult life, he worked several years for Electronic Motion Systems in San Diego and was a valued employee. A self-described "refugee" from the organized religion of his youth, Steve’s heart was captured by his exposure to Ilene’s family faith. Metaphysics and Science of Mind made perfect sense to his Virgo logic and he soon became a Science of Mind practitioner and beloved teacher at Centers for Spiritual Living. This was truly his soul’s work and he dedicated years to it – influencing lives and conveying to students the philosophy of Ernest Holmes and the Science of Mind through his own unique & creative teaching style. Over the years he touched lives at Pacific Church, Universal Spirit Center and Vision Center for Spiritual Living in San Diego.

Steve was a lifelong gardener and worked and taught in the school vegetable garden at Ella B. Allen Elementary School for six years while granddaughter Chloe attended classes. Children from kindergarten to 6th grade would line up to sample raw veggies before class! Steve showed up before the school day started weekly to work in the school garden. Teachers, children and parents adored him for his gentle & joyful inclusion of everyone.

Steve will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by daughters Jessica Cooper Morgan and Roselle Godfrey, granddaughters Chloe Hobiera Cooper and Zoe Cooper Carey, grandson Stephen Cooper Carey and former wife Ilene Cooper. May his name be a Blessing and his life remembered with love.