Gene Otto Cooler, Jr.

Gene Otto “Gene O” Cooler Jr. has left this earth to be joined with his triune God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit after a long struggle with cancer.

Gene O had the most wonderful adventurous life growing up on “The original Palmetto Bluff” owned by Union Camp. His work ethic began at an early age and he greatly enjoyed the woods, nature, work and hunting on “the bluff”.

The Maye River became his passion, as he spent many hours with family and friends enjoying leisure fun and nature bounty from the beautiful, pristine Maye River.

After leaving “The Bluff”, Gene’s attention turned to golf. He began after school at Moss Creek and enjoyed being a Greenskeeper.  This experience took him onto Hilton Head and the Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.  There his superintendent, Gary Snyder, chose Gene to “set the pins” placement for the PGA tour to include the Pro Am. He was chosen to caddy Beth Daniel contending with Nancy Lopez and others at the Women’s International at Moss Creek 1979.

Gene participated in some local group golf tournaments to win: #1 clutch putter, shipper, hole-in-one, 18 foot putt and chip shot to win.

His continued love for outdoor work gave him the opportunity to be presented as “Beaufort County Employee of the Month” recognized not only his still with Beaufort County Mosquito Control.  This placed Gene in the perfect place at the perfect time to save a woman’s life slumped over the wheel of her car unresponsive. Gene discovered her, when no one would stop, while checking canals for mosquitos.  Karen’s life was saved and Gene praised the Lord for his CPR training of years past.

Gene’s last challenge was the opportunity to enjoy working for GBI Alan Davis at Palmetto Dunes Resort when officers were real “state ticket writers”.

Gene’s real joy was plain and simple outdoors. He spent his last days watching his deer and wildlife which he helped to protect when “The Bluff” was sold by Union Camp.

His greatest joy was watching his wife, Melody, home school their autistic son, Carl Morgan for 15 years, whose passion was and continues to be Equestrian Disability Riding”.

Gene O will be greatly missed by family and friends, a genuine life time Blufftonion.

Surviving Gene is his wife of 33 years, Melody Elizabeth Cooler, a son, Carl Morgan Cooler, his mother, Evelyn Deloris Cooler, a sister and brother in law, Jeannie and Danny Brown, Godfather to Carl Morgan, Charles W. Fore, aunts, uncles, cousins and “lots more Coolers”.

Gene is preceded in death by his father, Gene Otto Cooler Sr.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at St. Luke’s Cemetery, Okatie, SC.  In lieu of flowers, Gene asks you to please make donations to The Autism Society of American (www.autismsociety.org).

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