Jimmy Earl Cooley

Jimmy Earl Cooley, 88 years old, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 21, 1936 and raised in his hometown of DeRidder, Louisiana by his Mother Ermel and local Fire Department Chief of 42 years Father, J.B.. Later he attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he earned a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Physics. Due to his academic achievements as a “rocket scientist”, he was tapped by President John F Kennedy to help establish Nasa Goodard Scientific Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. It was here he met his wife of 40 years Carollyn. He moved back to DeRidder in 2005 where he became a gentleman farmer as he built a farm full of vegetables, honeybees and gourds. He also became an accomplished genealogist. Helping in every endeavor were his trusted companions Chance, his dog and Louie, his cat. Throughout the years he became proficient at many hobbies, including Master Gardening, Photography, Golf, piloting small aircraft, painting portraits, authoring numerous books, a practicing Psychokinetic. He was a true “all things to all people” and will be dearly missed.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 40 years Carollyn Cooley and their children; Randy Cooley, Dona Breen, Edward Thompson, Brent Cooley, Richard Thompson, Doug Cooley, Carol Haddon, Sabrina Cooley, his 16 Grandchildren, his 32 Great Grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. He is preceded by his parents Marshall “J.B.” Cooley and Ermel Vuel Cooley, his siblings Rev Clyde “Junior” Cooley and Aulina Cooley Bellando.

A funeral service to honor Jimmy’s life will take place on Thursday. October 17, 2024, at 1:00 pm in the chapel at Myers Colonial Funeral, in DeRidder, LA. Prior to the service, a public viewing will be held at the funeral home starting at 11:00 am until the start of the service. A private burial will take place on a later date. His memory will forever be cherished by those who knew and loved him. Jimmy’s legacy of kindness and compassion will continue to live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him. The Funeral service will be on FaceBook Live at 1:00pm on the Myers Colonial Funeral Home page.

In lieu of flowers the family would like you to donate to the American Diabetes Association in memory of Jimmy Cooley. The link is listed below. 

https://donors.diabetes.org/page/FUNDPCPKANX&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=donate&utm_content=sitelink-extension&utm_term=account?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhP6TlpWHiQMVdijUAR3MjQHSEAAYASADEgJeXPD_BwE