Robert Alan Cooley

Robert Alan “Bob” Cooley, 73 of Gaylord, passed away at home on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

Born in Lansing, Michigan on November 22, 1946, he was the son of Erwin and Barbara (Shipman) Cooley.  When he was 13 his family moved to Harrison where Bob was class president of Harrison High School class of 1965.  He lived for several years in Alaska and also  spent time in St. Martins Point, Hessel, and wintered in Delray Beach, FL.  He had been a Gaylord resident since the mid-80’s.

He was a long time welder, working most of his career on oil rigs; some of that time was spent working in Alaska.  Bob was the owner of Cooley Welding Company.  For several years during the 1990’s Bob and his wife Peggy owned the Big O Ranch in Elmira, raising Ostrich’s.

In his spare time, he was an avid hunter and fisherman.  Bob built many lifelong friendships fishing and big game hunting.  He cherished the time spent with these friends in Wyoming and Alaska but especially with his two sons on hunting and fishing trips in Alaska and Canada.

He also enjoyed the time he spent with his friends over morning coffee at the Flap Jack Shack and later at Big Boy, both in Gaylord.

Bob is survived by his wife, Peggy, whom he married on August 22, 1986; sons, Scot (Teresa) Cooley of Anchorage, AK and their children, Sarah, Robert and Lillian Cooley; Jeffrey (Janet Smith) Cooley of Dyersburg, TN; daughters, Nevine Nass of Delray Beach, FL and her children, R. Trent and Parker Nass; Theresa (Tom) Freeman of Gaylord, their children, Michael Freeman and Jaclyn (Kyle) Eckert and their children (Robert’s great-grandchildren), Maverick and Vivian Eckert; Esther Gilman of Hessel, MI and her children, Morgan and Megan Somers.  Also surviving are sisters, Nancy (Fred) Foley of Lake Orion and Diane (Larry) Scanlon of Gaylord; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Larry Funk.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Mt. Hope Church in Gaylord where the family will visit with friends beginning at 11:00 AM.  For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at www.gaylordchurch.com.  In lieu of flowers, those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to the family for future designation.

Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service.  Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com