Jack Cooley

CLEVELAND Jack James Cooley, 72, a resident of Cleveland went to be with his Lord and his beloved wife on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012.He was a member of Faith Memorial Church.Jack was born on Dec. 13, 1939. He attended McMinn Central High School until joining the military in 1958, where he served 12 years as a paratrooper with the 82nd and 101 St Airborne Division in the US Army with two tours in Vietnam. Highly decorated, he earned numerous awards; the Air Medal for Heroism while participating in Ariel flight in Vietnam and the Air Medal with 3rd Leaf Cluster. After his discharge he was a member of the local VFW for 44 years. Mr. Cooley retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad in 1995 after 26 years of loyal and devoted service as a foreman of the mechanical department. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to all who knew him. Jack was an avid crappie and trout fisherman. He enjoyed spending time with friends and family, cooking and canning, then giving the spoils of his labor to the less fortunate.He was the son of the late Burley Cooley and Ethel Duckett Cooley and was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Martha Sue Gibbs Cooley; brother, Fred Cooley; sisters, Margie Cooley Smith and Barbara Cooley Harmon.Survivors include his daughter, Abby E. "Beth" Cooley, of Cleveland; two sons and daughters-in-law, Patrick J. and Christi E. Cooley, of Riceville, and Steve and Alesia Rogers, of Cleveland; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Gladys Cooley and E.W. and Wanda Cooley, all of Etowah, BW "Bug" and Judy Cooley, of Athens; eight beloved grandchildren; three beloved great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and special friend, Charlie Marshall.Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012 in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with Pastor David Riggs officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with military honors. Don Cooley, Scott Cooley, David Cooley, Mark Culpepper, Randall Smith and Joel Gravitt will serve as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service.We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Cooley family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.The family will receive friends from 5 -8 p.m. today at the funeral home.