Ethan Andrew Jeffrey Cooper, 22, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026. 

Born on February 21, 2003, in Charleston, SC, Ethan was the son of Alexis Casserly Cooper and Jeffrey Cooper. 

From the day he could hold a rod in his hand, fishing was always Ethan’s first passion, however along the way he discovered a love of the beautiful game - soccer. Ethan played club soccer for Daniel Island Soccer Association (DISA), GPS and James Island Soccer Club (JISC), as well as played for the James Island Charter High School (JICHS) Men’s Soccer team. One of his greatest accomplishments with soccer was being a member of the first Men’s Soccer State Championship for JICHS in 2021. Apart from soccer, Ethan really loved everything about fishing, especially fly fishing, which developed into the love of tying flies and eventually creating a small business - Holy City Flies. During that time, another hobby developed, which was hunting anything with two wings. This was a love he shared with his brothers Owen and Jonathan. Ethan was happiest when he was on a boat or in the woods.

After High School, Ethan moved down to Brunswick, Georgia and attended the College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA). During his time in Georgia, Ethan developed many close relationships through school and work, which he maintained even after moving to Georgetown, South Carolina.

Ethan eventually found that his path in life was to do something with Wildlife Management, thank you Parker Howard. Ethan studied Wildlife Management at Horry Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) and would have been graduating in May of this year. Ethan was a member of the Wildlife Society Chapter at HGTC and Creation Keepers. Whether it was on the pitch, at work, in the woods or on the water, it never failed to amaze his parents what a great group of young men Ethan would surround himself with. We are eternally grateful for the many memories and bonds that were formed. Always remember Ethan wearing some Bottomlands, holding a fishing rod in one hand with a shotgun slung over his other shoulder and his loving dog “Bash” who was always by his side. 

Ethan is preceded in death by Grandfathers, Winston “Bud” Cooper and Nigel Casserly. 

Ethan is survived by his parents, Jeffrey and Alexis Cooper; brothers Owen (Kayla) and Jonathan; Grandparents, Ludo Van de Wiel and Alexis Kong-Van de Wiel and Kathy Cooper; Aunts, Stacy Casserly (Harvey), Beth Hopkins (Mark) and Janet Ishmael; Uncle, Jim Cooper (Mary); too many Grand Aunts, Uncles and Cousins to mention that are far and wide from Jamaica, England and China, but you know who you are; numerous friends that are like extended family, and finally his faithful companion Bash (Pet Helpers).

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, West Ashley. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407. 

Burial will be private at a later date at Holy Cross Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pet Helpers Adoption Center, 1447 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412 or St Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407. 

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.