Willard Kent Cooley, 70, of Valley View, Texas passed away at his home on July 28, 2020. Funeral services honoring Kent will be held at 2:00 pm, on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Meador Funeral Home Chapel, 1204 E. California Street, Gainesville, officiated by Reverend Danny Shaver. Burial to follow at New Hope Cemetery, Mountain Springs, Texas with military honors. There will be a time of visitation for friends and family on Friday, July 31, 2020 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Meador Funeral Home Chapel.
Kent was born on September 5, 1949 in Whitney, Texas to W.B. “Mickey” Cooley and Mildred Inez (Steele) Cooley. He married Kathy Cooley in Mountain Springs, Texas on December 15, 1986. Kent graduated from Valley View High School and then on to attend North Central Texas College. Kent served in the US Army from April 1971-April 1977, stationed in Germany as a Pershing Missile Crewman. He worked as a mechanic, carpenter and locksmith and retired from the Denton State Supported Living Center in August of 2015. Kent enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and his dog Lucy. He also enjoyed cars, motorcycles, amateur radio, camping and drag races.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Cooley; daughters, Wendy Leonard and Stormie Maiden and husband Matt; grandson, Hudson Leonard and granddaughter, Kinsley Maiden.
Pallbearers will be; Matt Maiden, Clair Barnes, Ricky Cheaney, Michael Coleman, Nick Boggs and Seth Allen. Honorary pallbearers will be; John Dumas, Wayne Cooley, Jim Hays, Earl Brinkley, Jackie Miller and Jim Hobbs.
To sign the online registry, please go to www.meadorfuneral.com.
Catch you later you are always with me In my heart ?
Poppa you will forever be in my heart. It’s not goodbye, it’s just until we meet again. Love always
-Sha
Stormie I am so very sorry for your families loss ! You are all in my thoughts and prayers
So sorry for your loss, sending prayers for his family
So sorry for your loss –
Our heartfelt condolences! May his soul Rest In Peace!
I worked with Kent at DSSLC. He always tried to make us laugh with his jokes or commentary of the situation. He was a nice man and will be missed. The family is in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
My father, my friend. I love you so much.
Gods Speed Kent… You were quite a creative fella and great story teller. A pleasure to work with all those years at the DSSLC.
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss, my prayers and thoughts are with you.
Kent will certainly be missed. He was a good friend. RIP Kent.
Kent, you affected my life in so many ways, for so many years. I’m going to miss you.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers
You left a wonderful legacy in your children
Our deepest condolences to you Kathy and Stormie..
I am sorry to hear about Kent. He came by the gym often to help with workorders and was always a delight to talk to. My sincere condolences
He was a wonderful person! I enjoyed working with him at Denton SSLC as he always wore a smile and was very witty.
Kent was a good man. I worked with him for 1 year before he retired.
My cousin, my friend. Fond memories when we were boys playing around the log cabin and the the old school house in Mountain Springs. The best time of late sharing family stories. RIP
You will be missed you were so crazy in school
We felt so close and met far too seldom. You left some wonderful people on the trail you made who will continue with your memories and live by what you gave them. Bless you.
To Kathy, Wendy, and Stormie, our deepest condolences.
Kathy, so sorry for your loss, Kent and I grew up together, we had a lot of fun times in those early years, he was a good friend, he will be missed, RIP Kent, God speed old friend
I am so sorry, Stormie. I’m holding you and Kathy in my heart.
We will remember you always! RIP
Just found this sad news. Kent and I spent time in the army in Germany. One of the best friends I made, we had such a great time as Pershing missile crewman. I even traveled to Pilot Point after the army to visit for a few days. God bless his family.
Thank you for sharing this. I had heard your name in stories my dad shared from his time in the army.