NETTLETON – Roger Dale Cooley, 72, departed this life on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from the North MS Medical Center after an extended illness. Roger was born in Tupelo, Lee County, on January 29, 1952, the son of the late Charles C. Cooley and Wilma Ruth Donald, who survives. Roger lived most of his life in the Nettelton-Dorsey area. He graduated from Nettleton High School in 1970 and began a lifelong career as a sewing machine mechanic for Reed’s Manufacturing and Action/Lane Furniture where his unique skills were in high demand. Roger loved his farm northeast of Nettleton where he raised livestock and was a great steward of the land, especially enjoying bushhogging. He loved his John Deere tractors and equipment and was known for years for riding around the countryside near his home – which he called “riding through the neighborhood.” He loved his family and especially his grandchildren. Roger was baptized at Big Oak Baptist Church in Itawamba County. He found spiritual strength in the great outdoors and all of God’s creation.

A service celebrating his life will be held at 1 PM Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo with Minister Adam Miller of Mayfield Church of Christ officiating. Private burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 PM – 7 PM Tuesday and from Noon to service time on Wednesday, all at Holland – Tupelo Chapel, which is honored to serve their friends and neighbors. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming at 1 PM Wednesday, where it will be archived afterward.

Roger is survived by his wife, Teresa Lanphere Cooley, whom he married almost 51 years ago on April 13, 1973; his son, Kevin Cooley and wife Angela of Pontotoc; his mother, Wilma Donald Cooley of Oliver Springs, TN; his grandchildren, whom “Pop” thought did no wrong, Braeden Cooley, Jake Cooley, and Kade Cooley; his sister, Debra Cooley Gunn of Oliver Springs, TN; his brother-in-law, Roger Lanphere of Murphreesboro, TN; his nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

Roger was preceded in death by his father, Charles Cooley; his sister, Lynn Cooley; his sister-in-law, Peggy Lanphere; and his in-laws, Jewel and Jake Lanphere.

Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105, in honor of Jake Cooley.