This home was built for the large family of a successful German immigrant, John C. Nulsen, in about 1873. Mr. Nulsen was the founder of the Missouri Malleable Iron Company. When the Nulsen's moved to Compton Heights in 1890 it was purchased by Philip and Emily Stock who lived there until 1909. The roof was blow off by the famous 1896 tornado and the Stock family remodeled it with the present German baroque touches.

The home later passed from the Stock family to a very capable family, named the McLaughlin's, who turned it into a peaceful retreat for funeral services. 

1st generation, Layman Cooper became an embalmer in Desoto, Mo. and then began working for Mr. A. W. McLaughlin during a terrible flu epidemic in the 1930's. Mr. McLaughlin liked Layman so much that he hired him permanently, eventually retired of old age, and sold the entire business to the Cooper family in the early 1940's. Later Layman Cooper married Gladys Valle of Desoto, Mo. They moved into the funeral home upstairs and had owned and operated until they passed reins on to their dear son, Gary Cooper.

Gary was raised in the funeral home and attended Segal Grade School, McKinley High School. He is still an active "McKinley Gold Bug" today! Gary married his high school sweet heart, Kathy Arras, and together had two sons. One son, David, went on as employee of Laclede Gas Company and the other, John, is now the third generation leader of Cooper Funeral directors at McLaughlin Funeral Home.