Funeral services for Joseph W. Cooley were conducted from the First
Methodist Church at Lucerne, Mo. at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 26, with Rev. Wm.
A. Pollock, Gilman City, Mo., officiating minister, under auspices of the
Liggett Funeral Home, Seymour.
A quartet composed of Mrs. Lavona Smith, Mrs. Alva Young, Geo. Smith
and Wendell Dodson, sang "In the Garden" and "going Down the Valley." Mrs.
Carl Snyder sang "Beyond the Sunset." Mrs. Marie Cowger accompanied at the
piano.
Pallbearers were: Bernie Fowler, David Studebaker, Geo. Duncan, Geo,
Oakley, Will Hughes, and Alva Young.
Flower bearers were: Wanda Snyder, Ruth Alma Young, Laura Boll and
Bettie Marion.
Interment was in the Lucerne Cemetery.
Joseph William Cooley, son of Greenbury and Amelia Cooley, and eldest of a family of 10 children, was
born Jan. 28, 1867 near Terre Haute, Putnam County, Mo., and departed this
life at Seymour, Ia. Jan. 24, 1947 at the age of 79 years, 11 months and
26 days after an illness of 14 months.
He grew to manhood in this community and took advantage of the
local educational facilities of that day, and through the years has
broadened his knowledge, through persistent study and reading, which was his
favorite indulgence. His philosophy and rule of life was viewed with deep
respect.
On March 11, 1886 he was united in marriage to Arah
D. Johnson, who preceded him in death Jan. 22, 1902. To this union
were born seven children: Joseph
Claude, Seymour, Iowa; Mrs. Chloe
Alexander, Chillicothe, MO; Mrs. Vernal Shelton, Kansas City, Mo.; McCabe Cooley, Oakland, Calif., Wm. Allison, who gave his life for his
country in World War I; Maudie and Claitus, deceased.
In addition to the above he leaves to mourn his loss, five grand
children: Mrs. Maxine Coates, Seymour, Iowa; Mrs.
Cecile Elaine Rawlings, Kansas City, Mo.; Howard Cooley, Oakland,
Calif.; Allison Cooley, Oakland, Calif; Max Richard
Cooley, Seymour; one great grandson, Roger B. Rawlings, Kansas City, Mo.
Two brothers: Ervin Cooley, Unionville, Mo.; Sherman Cooley, Newtown, Mo.
Two sisters: Mrs. Kletia McKinley, Kansas City, MO; Mrs. Dora Snyder,
Lucerne, MO.
Mr. Cooley acted as both father and mother to his children whom he
reared alone and guided safely to maturity.
For the past 16 years he made his home with his son Claude at
Seymour. He was a lover of the great outdoors, living the plain and simple
life, and was especially happy when he moved with Claude to the farm. There
he spent the happiest years of his life with his grandson, Max Richard, whom
he had been with since birth.