James Ray Cooper helped set golf cart world record at Sun City Center Christmas Parade

SUN CITY CENTER — When James Ray Cooper, known as Jim to friends and family, approached Elaine Brad and told her that he wanted to break a world record, she wasn't surprised.

"Jim was very competitive," said Brad, the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce president. "If you're going to do something, you should do it big."

And he did. Twice.

Mr. Cooper broke the Guinness World Record for having the most golf carts in a parade during the 2002 Sun City Center Christmas Parade with 191 golf carts. He beat his own record the next year with 306 golf carts.

He wasn't the last to set the golf cart record, but he was the first.

Family members said it showed his tenacity. He was a very determined person, said Christine Barfield, his stepdaughter.

"It was kind of a goal of his," said Barfield, 58. "It just made him feel worthwhile."

Mr. Cooper died May 11. His wife, Laura Cooper, 88, said he had finished making her breakfast and then went to shower. He suffered a massive heart attack.

Paramedics found him with a slight heartbeat. He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Barfield said.

"I didn't expect this to happen," Laura Cooper said. "He was such a strong fellow."

Mr. Cooper was widely known in the Sun City Center community. He owned Sun City Golf & Cars and served on the Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. And he originated the Christmas parade. It ran for five years before it was disbanded.

"He was very involved in the community, very active and did anything that benefited the community," Brad said.

Mr. Cooper did more than just serve the community. For the past 20 years, he took care of his ailing wife, who has diabetes.

"He did everything he could to help me," Laura Cooper said. "His life revolved around me and the children."

Mr. Cooper had no children from his previous marriage, but he took in his wife's children as his own.

He would always think of ways to entertain his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Once, he came up with a life-size poster of the Maytag Man. Another time, it was a life-size poster of the hideous Momma from the 1987 movie Throw Momma From the Train, for a son who was having a birthday party.

"He was always doing silly little things, sweet things," Barfield said.

He planted flowers outside the kitchen window for his wife. Not ordinary flowers, but roses.

She sees them now and remembers his kindness.

"Whenever I look at those roses, I'll think of him," she said.

Amy Mariani can be reached at (813) 226-3374 or amariani@sptimes.com.