Earl Dorman Cooley Jr.

"I love pop-pop, I love pop-pop, I love pop-pop, and pop-pop he loves me."
This became his legacy and theme song from the birth of his first granddaughter Jessica to every grandchild and great-grandchild in between. Held snuggly in his arms, singing the pop-pop song on repeat (almost ad nauseum), until those sweet little babies fell asleep. I feel it's safe to say, he loved family more than anything in the world.
Growing up in the San Juan islands since the mid-50's, he was surrounded by the most magnificent water and nature. He taught all of us kids the basics of camping, deep sea fishing (and how to avoid sea-sickness), how to set the kelp-people free, driving a truck, how to shoot a gun, driving a backhoe, how to drive without spilling dad's coffee, how to make a meal for 10 outside, how be a construction runner (running errands driving 4-wheelers, zodiac boats and long-haul trucks), tracking pirate treasure chests on remote islands, and how to keep coffee hot in all temperatures.
Even though he was a Pacific Northwesterner through and through, he couldn't help showing the southern genes weaved into his being. His happiest pastimes were large family gatherings, food for everyone - plus 10 more, games around kitchen tables, self-sufficiently hunting and fishing for food (of which he shared graciously), using his trucks to help people in need (plowing driveways, cars out of ditches, or even moving). He merged our families to create a bigger family, then sometimes adopted his employees or our friends as his own. He even brought "table manners" into my life. Anyone remember the table slap, "no elbows on tables"?! Of which I still struggle with, and giggle when I do it.
He was creative, loved to cook, and always had a best friend by his side. His line of Goldens were legends in their own right. Those days of Cody and Tandy and oodles of puppies running around our basement. They were his children. They were our brothers and sisters growing up. In fact, Dad used sign language with Cody when he'd go pheasant hunting in Montana. To this day, I sign with Chewie the same way Dad did with Cody. The fact his last best friend, Annie, is now living with his first-born Jennifer, brings so much peace and closure that she's going to be taken care of by family...what he cared about most.
Deception Pass is the most perfect gateway.
Beautiful and dangerous,
Strong, but fragile.
Cradled by rock stillness,
with dancing green-blue whirlpools below
The calmness of a foggy inlet
to a wide ocean of possibility around the corner.
Kissed every night by the western sun.
To our Dancing Walrus Pirate,
May this gateway take you to places you never imagined.
We love you, Dad.
Arrr, this be good swill"!
Dorm's legacy lives on through his four kids, Jennifer, Shannon, Derek and Aaron; his grandchildren, Jessica, Braydon, MacKenzie, Caleb, Coen, Taylor, Liv and Nina; and his two great grandchildren, Arya and Theodore and his siblings, Jerry, Paul and Tammy. He was predeceased by his parents, Earl & Nancy Cooley
To share memories of Dorm please sign the online guest register. Please bookmark this directline to check for updates: www.evanschapel.com/obituary/dorm-cooley