Darlene Diane Wade Cooley, 81, entered eternal life on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Marshall Medical Center North. She was born November 4, 1944, in Cook County, Illinois, the third child of George and Florence Wade. Throughout her life, Darlene worked as a waitress and also earned her cosmetology degree from Wallace Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. In her spare time, she knitted and crocheted. She was passionate about staying in touch with family and friends, always quick to send an encouraging message when she was thinking of them. She was also a longtime member of the Arab First United Methodist Church and had a deep love for the Lord. She married John Cooley on September 15, 1986, he preceded her in death in 2013. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a brother: Johnny Wade, and her first husband: Bobby Joe Young.
She is survived by her children: Joseph N. Young (Lori), Robert “Bobby” Young (Christy Barbee), Thomas M. Young (Sue), Timothy R. Young, and Kelly J. Bryan (Zack Light); grandchildren: Thomas M. Young, Jr. (Madison), Maria Nicole Love, Terry Wayne Young (Kayla), Dawn Howard (Brandon), William Harper (Brandy), Alayna Thomas, Dalton Bryan, Crimson Bryan, Adilynne Bryan, Dax Hammack, Joey Young (Lindsey), Sarah Pipia (George), Richard Young (Leandra), Megan Young-Stracener, and Timothy Young, Jr.; twenty great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a brother: Daryl Wade.
Celebration of Life will be held at Gober Funeral Chapel on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, or Arab First United Methodist Church, PO Box 470, Arab, AL, 35016.
