Earnest E. Cooleyborn Nov. 27, 1922 in Muskogee, OK, to Walter and Millie Cooley. After serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps, he enlisted in the U.S Army Jan. 11, 1941, serving through WW II, rising to the rank of S/Sgt. He was awarded the Purple Heart, European African Middle Eastern Theater Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army Nov. 14, 1945. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

He married his wife, Claudia (Barr) Cooley September 3, 1946. After their marriage, they settled in Dallas to raise their family.

He became a mechanic for Ed Myer Ford in Dallas where he worked until 1968. He then went to work for the US Post Office as a mechanic until he retired in 1984. Shortly after retiring, he built a home on Blackgum Mountain near Vian, OK. In 2009, he and his wife moved to Garland, TX to be near family. He enjoyed working on his land in Oklahoma, square dancing, fishing and the outdoors.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Claudia M. Cooley; his son, Rev. Clarence (Eddie) Cooley; his father, Walter Cooley; his mother, Millie F. (Davis) Cooley; brothers, Carl T. Cooley and James W. (Cooley) Parker; and sisters, Frela Joan (Cooley) Robinson and Rose Marie (Cooley) Achery and daughter-in-law Margaret A. Cooley.

He is survived by his daughter, Joyce F. (Cooley) McEachern and her husband, David McEachern; son, Carl D. Cooley and his wife, Ladonna Cooley; son, Raymond L. Cooley; daughter, Janie M. (Cooley) Miller and her husband Jerry Miller; sister, Jackie Griffith; sister-in-law, Martha Barr; grandchildren, Kevin D. McEachern, Joshua Cooley, Steven Cooley, Laura (Cooley) Davis, Heather (Cleary) Gipson, James Cleary, Robert Cleary, Carl Cleary and Jerrica Miller; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.