Kenneth Cooley

1947 - 2025

Ken Cooley, 77, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2025 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Son of Sidney and Earline (Gillespie) Cooley, he was born September 17, 1947, in Tupelo, MS. He graduated from Shannon High School in 1965 where he was co-valedictorian with his best friend, Bill Carter. He attended Itawamba Community College where he met the love his life, Shelia Jackson. They were married January 26, 1969. Ken graduated from Mississippi State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. After graduation he accepted a Civil Engineering position with TVA in Knoxville, TN. In September 1975 his son Ryan was born. He moved his family to Iuka, MS in 1978 where he continued working with TVA. His daughter Amy was born in October 1979 in Iuka. He continued working with TVA until 2002 until he retired after 30 years of service. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church; served on the Board of Directors of the Tishomingo Development Foundation; and the Board of Directors of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District. He loved the Lord, his family, and his friends dearly. He enjoyed making people laugh and having fun with life. He spent many summer afternoons on the golf course; countless mornings on fishing; and too many cold winter days in a deerstand to ever count. Family beach trips were his favorite and he could sit all day watching the waves roll in and his granddaughters play in the sand. He didn't care much for the mountain trips but he went anyway like a good dad and granddaddy does. He entertained friends and family for many cookouts at his home in Iuka, and family holidays were so much fun for him. His last Christmas was one of the best ever with a house full gifts, people, love and smiles, and this last deer season he got one of the biggest bucks of his life. He was preceded to heaven by his parents Sidney and Earline, and by his brother Ed. He is survived by his wife Shelia Cooley; his son Ryan Cooley and his wife Alicia; his daughter Amy Dotson; his grandchildren Lily Hope Cooley, Sawyer Dotson, Ella Olin, Tristan Cattret, Jill Carter, Bailey Mccreless and all his other honorary grandchildren; his brother Tom Cooley and his wife Mary Woodie; his brother Larry Kimbrough; as well as many nieces, cousins, grandnieces, grandnephews, and his beloved granddogs. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M., at Cutshall Funeral Home Chapel in Iuka. Services will immediately follow at 12:00 P.M., officiated by Bro. Steve Kennedy. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. He was a deeply loved husband, father, granddaddy, and friend. He passed quickly and painlessly with his loving wife at his bedside just as he would have wanted. Though he will be missed so much by his family and friends, he truly led a full and blessed life. An online guestbook may be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.