Sidney Edward Cooley – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
1 comment

Sidney Edward Cooley, 74, passed away Monday, June 25, 2018, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born May 5, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Sidney Arthur and Earline Gillespie Cooley. He graduated top of his class from Itawamba Agricultural High School and later Itawamba Community College where he was elected Mr. IJC. After graduating from Mississippi State University in 1965, Mr. Cooley began his career at Verona Middle School as a math teacher, girls’ basketball coach, assistant to the football team, bus driver, and assistant principal. He was in his second year of teaching when the Cardinal football team was begun. Over the next 36 years, he did not miss a single game, whether at home or on the road. In 1973, he became principal and retired after 37 years in education on June 28, 2002.

Mr. Cooley was a member of Mantachie United Methodist Church and was a founding and former member of the Lee County Bass Club. He was the first club champion in 1977 and all-time points leader in the club until he retired. He was Angler of the Year several times. He loved attending and watching MSU ballgames.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 29, at the Mantachie United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joe Coggins and the Rev. Ronnie Goodwin officiating. Burial will be in Keyes Cemetery. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home of Mantachie is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include two brothers, Tom Cooley (Mary Woodie) of Amory and Ken Cooley (Shelia) of Iuka; his nieces, Laura Guthrie and Emily Elkin (Ronnie) of Amory, and Amy Dotson of Iuka; his nephew, Ryan Cooley of Iuka; his great-nieces, Sydney Elkin, Maren Guthrie, Lily Hope Cooley, and Sawyer Dotson; his great-nephew, Blake Elkin; a special friend and caregiver, Eric Miller.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be Roy Wooley, Lemois Oswalt, Nick Humber, Robert Pearce, and Eric Miller.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Lewellen and Barry Green.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Mantachie and from 10 a.m. until service time Friday, June 29, at Mantachie United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Keyes Cemetery Memorial Fund or to Mantachie United Methodist Church

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1 comment

Deshun Watkins June 26, 2018 - 11:06 pm

God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So he put His arms around you
And whispered “Come to me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you
As you slowly slipped away
And though we loved you dearly
We couldn’t make you stay.

Your golden heart stopped beating
Your tired hands put to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

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