Obituary for Mary Marge Cooley
Mary Marjorie Cooley, 93, of Pekin passed away on Thursday December 24, 2009 at Fondulac Nursing home in East Peoria. Born to Daniel and Kathryn Doyle Leary in Cooksville, IL on August 19, 1916, she was the oldest of 8 children. She married Billie B. Cooley on January 2, 1945, he preceded her in death on March 5, 1961. Also preceding were her sister Lorene Thomas and brother Eldon Leary. Marge is survived by her children: Deborah Cooley of Washington, Ronald (Linda) Cooley of Lake Petersburg and Rebecca (Bill) Clark of Pekin, her siblings: Laverne Evans of Normal, Arlo (Eileen) Leary of Bloomington, Warren (Marilyn) Leary of Ellsworth, Duane (Jan) Leary of LeRoy, Patricia (Vic) Rochelle of Normal and grandchildren and great grandchildren: Amanda (Sylvester) Evens, Matthew Clark, Alicia Evens, Jessica Evens, Colleen (Josh) Mead, Taber, Marley, Colin (Stephanie) Dana, Lauren Dana, Emily Dana, Rachel Clark, Allison Houston, Kristi (Bill) Morris-Richards, Zabian, Sebastian, Julian, Michael Morris and Nick (Heather) Morris. She graduated from Cooksville High School in 1933, had a B.S. from Illinois State University, taught 35 years, 26 of them in Pekin for Dist 303 at Douglas School, retiring in 1963 and was mother of the year in 1963. She was also a member of the Tazewell County and Illinois Retired Teacher’s, Pekin Women’s Club, Pekin Pilot Club, Dirksen Center, Pekin Hospital League, Tazewell and McLean County’s Homemakers Extensions, Pekin Emblem Club No. 424 and Bloomington Emblem Club No. 432, the Ladies of Columbus, St. Joseph’s Council of Women, St. Joseph’s Altar and Rosary Society and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin where a funeral mass will be held on Monday December 28, at 10 a.m. Father Pat Fixsen will officiate and burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pekin. Visitation will be held at Abts Mortuary on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Abts Mortuary has been entrusted with her funeral arrangements.
View a Video Memorial
Read More
View a Video Memorial
To plant a tree in memory of Mary Marge Cooley, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...