Joan Bryan Cooley

Joan Bryan Cooley

December 30, 2025

Mrs. Joan Page Bryan Cooley, 84, of Waynesboro, Pa., formerly of Frederick, Md., and Richmond, Va., died Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at the York Hospital in York, Pa., following a brief illness.

Born on October 25, 1941, in Richmond, Va., she was a daughter of the late Henry Herbert and Ann Theresa McDonough Bryan. Mrs. Cooley was a 1959 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Va. Growing up, she enjoyed singing with her 3 sisters (The Bryan Sisters), acting, and dancing. Mrs. Cooley spent many years acting with Mill Mountain Playhouse in Roanoke, Va., and Fredericktowne Players in Frederick, Md. She was last employed with Frederick County Public Schools, specifically at Frederick High School. Mrs. Cooley was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church and sang in the choir for many years.

She is survived by her 2 daughters - Gwendolyn Page Cooley Caudill of Waynesboro, Pa., and Elizabeth Ann Cooley Fox (husband Rob Christopher) of Frederick, Md.; her 3 sisters - Marcia Ann Bryan Curtis (husband Bobby) of Greensboro, N.C., Deane Valli Bryan Adams (Husband Hugh) of Richmond, Va., and Theresa Ann Bryan Keel (husband Stephen) of Westminster, Md.; her 5 grandchildren - Alison Marie Fox Steinheimer (husband Christopher), Samantha Nicole Caudill Gladhill (husband Joseph), Brandon Thomas Caudill (partner Kirsten Harman), Page McDonough Fox, and Timothy James Caudill; as well as her 4 great-grandsons - Addison, Grayson, and Gavin Steinheimer, and Brantley Gladhill. Mrs. Cooley is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews, and 27 great-nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by very dear friends, Carol and Wayne Freed.

Mrs. Cooley was preceded in death by her husband, James Marcus Cooley, sister-in-law Barbara Ann Cooley Osborne, brother-in-law Robert Maxwell Osborne, nephew - Jon Craig Osborne, and niece - Holly Paige Curtis Swann.

The family will receive friends at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, Md., on Thursday, January 8th from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 9th at 1 p.m at Calvary United Methodist Church, 133 West Second Street, Frederick, Md., with entombment at Resthaven Memorial Gardens immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Weinberg Center for the Arts at weinbergcenter.org

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.