Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation

The Cooper Family would like to announce that a final resting place for Jeff and Janelle’s remains has been secured at the Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery in Prescott at the request of the family.  While Gunsite has been completely supportive of the Coopers remaining in the mausoleum in perpetuity, a family decision was made to ensure long term security and allow easier access by family and friends.  The Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Prescott, and is home to some of the area’s most noted figures, including Sharlot Hall, Big Nose Kate, and a majority of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.  All are welcome to visit.     The Coopers’ home at the Sconce will remain a monument to Jeff and Janelle on Gunsite Ranch, sponsored and maintained by Gunsite Academy.  The new Gunsite 250 Pistol Course graduates will continue to visit the Sconce after graduation.  It will also be open by appointment to Gunsite family members to visit and enjoy by scheduling through Gunsite Academy.

The Sconce, Mom and Dad’s residence at Gunsite, was always part of the entire property and, as such, was sold when Gunsite was sold.   Mom and Dad had “life estate” in the Sconce.   With Mom’s passing this last July, we have been going through all the personal belongings therein.
We have completed this phase and have turned over the keys to Gunsite.
All of Dad’s collections (guns, edged weapons, hunting trophies, leather accessories and books) belong to The Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation and will continue to be housed at the Sconce through the generosity of Buz and Sonja Mills.   The Sconce will continue to be available for tours and we will continue to host the Open House at the end of each 250 class, complete with brownies and Arnold Palmers.
The traditions live on!

Jane Ellen “Janelle” (Marks) Cooper, age 99, of Paulden, AZ passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28th, 2019. She died with as much grace as she lived, surrounded by family and dear friends.

Janelle was born May 31, 1920 in Los Angeles, CA to Jasper Glenn Marks and Florence Pixley Marks, the second of two children.  She attended the Marlborough School in Los Angeles and graduated from Stanford University in 1942. During her junior year in high school, she met the love of her life, Jeff. They eloped in February, 1942, she a senior at Stanford, he a commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, in the throes of World War II. Together, they would lead an extraordinary life through 64 years of marriage; winning dance contests, enduring wars, raising a family, starting a world-renowned institution, and travelling the world.   

After raising their 3 daughters in the Big Bear Lake area of California, Jeff and Janelle moved to Paulden, Arizona in 1975, to fulfill Jeff’s vision of creating a school where the private citizen could learn the fundamentals of self-defense through personal firearms training. They started the American Pistol Institute in 1978, which would later become known as Gunsite Ranch (now Gunsite Academy). As the perfect complement to Jeff, Janelle’s steadfast devotion to her husband facilitated the success of his vision. Janelle’s charm, grace, and warm hospitality greeted decades of students and instructors, leaving her with lifelong friends far and wide.    

After Jeff’s passing in 2006, Janelle carried on in their home at Gunsite Ranch, known as “the Sconce,” until her death. She continued to open her home to students graduating from the 250 pistol class at Gunsite, offering her famous brownies and “Arnold Palmers” (iced tea and lemonade), as well as a tour of the home which displays a lifetime of history. She (with family) started the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation in 2006, and served as its president until her death.     

The epitome of grace and strength, Janelle was a remarkable woman in countless ways. She was beautiful, dignified, humble, gracious, sharp, generous, and incredibly resilient  She could intelligently converse with anyone about almost anything, and attributed her longevity and vigorous good health to maintaining a positive outlook. The world is diminished by her loss, but her legacy will live on through the many lives she has influenced.

She is survived by her beloved daughters, Christy (Charles) Hastings, Parry (Bruce) Heath, Lindy (Joe) Wisdom, grandchildren Amy (David) Lovato, Vicky (Cougan) Carothers, Lisa (Brian) Altevogt, Tess (Jeremy) Jones, Tyler (Jenny) Heath, 13 great-grandchildren, and many, many dear friends. She has been interred beside her husband in the mausoleum at Gunsite in a private ceremony.  A memorial celebration of life will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 2000 Shepherds Ln. in Prescott, on Sat., Sept. 28 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation (jeffcooperfoundation.org).

We are pleased to introduce a special, limited edition 1911 from Ed Brown Products, Inc. in memory of the late Colonel Jeff Cooper. This commemorative 1911 is officially endorsed by the family of Jeff Cooper, and was designed in collaboration with them to render, as authentically as possible, what Jeff Cooper himself desired in a 1911.  The final design was based on input from our builders, the Coopers, and many of Jeff’s closest friends and fans. The goal was to create a 1911 for combat shooting and personal defense that he would have been proud to carry. The final product speaks for itself. If you were to own only one commemorative 1911, this would be the one.  A portion of the proceeds from this project will go to the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation to help them continue their work letting the next generation know who Jeff Cooper was, and what he meant to us all.

To get more information and to order your limited edition 1911 Jeff Cooper Commemorative 1911 Visit the Ed Brown Website.