CHESTERVILLE — Dr. “Doc” Everard Cooper was remembered Monday for his compassion for animals, professionalism, skills, dry wit and humility.

Cooper, a veterinarian for more than 60 years, had a massive stroke on Nov. 25 and died Saturday.

He and his wife, Joan, ran their practice from their home in Chesterville, but he traveled the region to care for pets and farm animals.

His wife of 66 years, Joan, was his assistant and also ran the business side of the practice, according to his children.

“She worked right alongside of him,” Cooper’s daughter, Susan Antone, said.

Veterinarian Dr. Becky Law, who works out of Turner Veterinarian Services in Turner, said she and Doc Cooper were best of friends and helped each other out a number of times.

“I’ve known him for about 23 years,” Law said. “We developed a friendship. He was my closest professional friend. He was kind of a professional father figure to me.”

She said they complemented each other when they worked on farm animals. Neither of them liked to do Cesarean-sections on cows, and they called on one another for help when they had to do them, she said.

He was a great surgeon but a very humble man who was extremely talented and skilled, Law said.

He was very open-minded and concerned about people, Law said.

“I also loved his sense of humor,” she said, decribing Cooper’s humor as quiet, dry wit. “He loved to laugh.”

He never turned down an adventure, she said, and his wife traveled with him.

For him to have been still practicing after 60 years is just “phenomenal,” she said. People want to retire but, “Doc just kept on working,” she said.

“I’ve known him since I was a little boy,” Don Castonguay of Livermore said. “He did all my dad’s veterinary work.”

Castonguay, the Livermore fire chief, grew up on a farm.

“Doc did our rabies clinics at the fire station for years,” he said.

Castonguay said he’ll remember Cooper’s compassion for animals.

“He had a way with them. Unbelievable,” Castonguay said. “He was a smart man, he really was.”

Cooper’s prices were also very reasonable, he said.

“I remember he used to come here and do our horses and cows,” Castonguay said. “He did everything. I don’t know what the farmers are going to do without him.”

Dozens of people commented on Turner Veterinarian Services’ Facebook page over the past several days, where Cooper was described as being a “legend” and a “great man.” Similar comments are found on his obituary page at the Wiles Remembrance Center.

“I really appreciate all the love and caring that is coming from the community,” Cooper’s daughter, Marnie Cooper Priest, said. “It means a lot to the family.” 

dperry@sunjournal.com