Theodore Lee Cooley

Theodore Lee Cooley, son of the late William Frederick and Elsie Mable (Done) Cooley, was born on July 6, 1919 in Dewey, Oklahoma, and departed this life on January 11, 2007 in the St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield, Missouri, following a short illness, at 87 years of age.
Lee grew up on a farm in Douglas County in the Drury area and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1941. Between his junior and senior year in high school, he joined the CCC’s to help his family financially and went back to school to graduate.
He joined the United States Horse Cavalry Division that late became the United States 9th Armored Division. He served his country in the European Theater, Battle of Buldge, and spearheaded crossing the Ryan River and pushed all the way to Berlin. He was honorably discharged on October 17, 1945.
Lee was united in marriage to Margaret Burge on September 26, 1946 in Ava, Missouri. They adopted and raised three children along with raising foster children over the years. They raised their family on a chicken farm in London, Arkansas for eighteen years and moved back to this area in 1982.
In his spare time, Lee enjoyed reading and working out at the YMCA on a regular basis. He had a great sense of humor and loved making those around him laugh. He was also known as a man of his word who was highly respected.
Lee was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He enjoyed spending time with his family and visiting with his neighbors and many friends. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the First Christian Church in Norwood, Missouri. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 30 in Mtn. Grove.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one son: Lt. William “Bill” Lee Colley in 1978; three brothers: Orville Colley, Landon Cooley, and Frederick Cooley; four sisters: Janis Wade, Hazel Schumann, Ida Cooley, and Joan McGinnis.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Margaret Cooley of their home; one son, Patrick Cooley and his wife, Cindy of North Little Rock, Arkansas; one daughter: Shirley Smith and her husband, Joe of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; two sisters: Frances Southerland and Janie Hicks, both of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss him very much.
Funeral services for Theodore Lee Cooley were held Saturday, January 13, 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel with Rev. John Luther officiating. Song selections were “Angel Band,” “Daddy’s Hands,” and “Go Rest High On That Mountain.” Pallbearers were Jason Cooley, Larland Mayfield, Darrell Cooley, Tom Cooley, Rick Allen, Wayne Sutherland, Bob Cope, Joshua Poore, Charles Lambert, Dain Lambert, Ronnie Dobbs, and Wes Lambert. Full military honors were given by the American Legion Post 30. Burial was in the New Hope Cemetery, Douglas County, under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, MO.