Obituary of Jack E. Cooley

Jack E. Cooley, age 80, of Dundee, died Monday. Nov. 21,2011 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was born in Monroe Oct. 15, 1931 the son of Eli Alexander Cooley and Irene Pearl Smock.His family moved from Monroe to Dundee in 1936. He graduated from Dundee High School in 1950 and 1971 from Monroe County Community College with a degree in business administration. He married Mary Lou Gillenkirk-Wells Nov. 8, 1952 and retired in 1991 after 41 years at Tecumseh Products. He also was an upholsterer, first with Charlie Lustig, then with his son in law Bill Gray at B and J Upholstery in Dundee. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force from 1952-55, stationed at Donaldson AFB Greenville, SC; Mitchell AFB Hempstead, NY; Toul-Rossier, Nancy, France; Everex-Paris, France, Manhattan Beach AF Station Brooklyn, NY. Jack was a member of the Dundee United Methodist Church, Dundee Lodge # 206, Knights of Pythias, Democratic Party, NAACP, United Products Workers and the Ida VFW Post. He enjoyed politics, telling stories and jokes and was known as the “pots and pans” man at the church and especially loved football. Survivors include his wife Mary Lou; four daughters Wendy Gray of Dundee, her children are Crystal Glover (Will-children: Dante, Bailey and Gavin) and Jason (Liz-children Emily, Sarah, Anna), Lora (Rene) Crombez of Adrian (Timothy James Gray and Daniel Lee Gray Jr. and Aaron Gray – all deceased, biological father was Lora’s first husband Daniel Lee Gray),; Rose (George) Landry of Dundee her daughter Tara Mitchell (children: Lance and Katherine); and Connie (Harral) Landry of Dundee (Harral’s daughter is Theresa Day (Cedric-children are Melody and Matthew) daughters Hannah and Olivia are still at home. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1966, father in 1980, and two sisters – Alice Simpson in 1985 and Helen Penterics in 1998; three infant grandsons Timothy James Gray – March 24, 1975 and Daniel Lee Gray Jr. – November 12, 1977 and Aaron John Gray – May 28, 1978.Friends may call on Friday from 1 – 9 P.M. at the Cover Funeral Home in Dundee. He will lie in state Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011 from 10:00 A.M. until service at 11:00 A.M. at Dundee United Methodist Church. Interment at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dundee. Graveside military services will be held. Memorials may be made to the church. Online condolences at www.coverfuneralhome.com