Gary D. Cooley's Obituary
Gary Dennis Cooley
October 24, 1945 – February 1, 2023
Gary Cooley, 77, of Tacoma, WA, passed away February 1, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his wife and daughters, after battling cancer. He was born in Tacoma, WA to Edwin and Mabel Cooley on October 24, 1945. He grew up in Spanaway with his sister and 4 brothers.
He attended Bethel High School where he played three sports: Football, basketball and baseball. He was a member of the Letterman’s Club and was voted “King of the Senior Ball”.
As he was preparing to enroll in Community College, he was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam. During his 22 months of service, he also spent time in Florida, Virginia and Malaysia.
After the Army, he started attending classes at Tacoma Community College, when he met his wife of almost 53 years – Janice Cooley. They were married February 20, 1970. Soon after, his first daughter, Cindy was born and 2 years later, his second daughter, Renae was born.
His hobbies included fishing, boating, golfing, drinking beer, and attending UW Huskies football games with his friends. He and his wife also played co-ed softball, joined a bowling league, and played pinochle with their group of friends. He enjoyed traveling and most recently visited Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
He worked at numerous woodworking shops over the years including Coast Craft, where he was promoted to supervisor and became his dad’s boss, followed by Lacey Door and Buffelen Woodworking. He retired in 2007 and continued using his skills in his garage workshop. Woodworking was such a large part of his life, and he made many projects for loved ones: A bedroom set for his wife, a bar for both of their houses, a free-standing pantry for his daughter and another for his nephew, cribbage boards, cabinets, picture frames and much more. He enjoyed sharing this love with his grandchildren when they came to visit, and often spent hours in the garage with his wife on projects.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, often traveling far and wide to catch a soccer game, basketball game, dance performance or baseball game. He looked forward to visits from the grandkids where he would take them out to help clean the pond, tend to his roses, walk them down to the creek by the golf course or just play on the back deck.
Gary was preceded in death by his father Edwin, mother Mabel, sister Opal and brothers Dale and Vernon.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jan, children Cindy and Renae, brothers Wayne and Dan, grandkids Caitlyn, Ryan and Alyssa, aunt Eyvonne, as well as his beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Family and friends are welcome to attend a viewing on Friday March 3, 2023 from 10:00am – 4:00pm at Mountain View Funeral Home.
Services (no viewing) will be held on Saturday March 4, 2023 at 11:30am at Mountain View Funeral home in the Aspen Chapel.
There will be a Celebration of Life following the service; time and location to be determined.
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