COOLEY, Martha Lee (Knabe) - b. February 28, 1945 - d. July 12, 2021

[patyrn]

Martha Lee (Knabe) Cooley, age 76, of Moline, Kansas, passed away July 12, 2021 at her home.  She was born February 28, 1945 in Winfield, Kansas to Clarence and Katie (Purkey) Knabe. 

Martha grew up in Moline, Kansas alongside six siblings and attended Moline schools.  At a young age, Martha met a young man at the Moline skating rink.  This young man was from Howard, Kansas, and as the relationship grew, he would walk from Howard to Moline on the railroad tracks just to see her.  On May 28, 1961, she married this young man, Larry Cooley, in the Moline First Baptist Church.

Martha and Larry lived in Augusta, Kansas for a short time but made their home in Moline for most of their married life.  They raised two sons, and lost one young son, Jimmy, as an infant.  They were married for 40 years until Larry's passing in 2001.

Over the years, Martha worked many jobs, from the laundry room at the nursing home to delivering Friendship Meals.  She was a member of the Moline First Baptist Church which she joined as a teenager.  She loved her family and was known by them all to be a little ornery.

Martha is survived by her son, Ken (Trina) Cooley of Moline Kansas; grandchildren, Kenneth Cooley of San Angelo, Texas, Nathan Cooley and fiancee Dena Saidian of Severy, Kansas, Boston Cooley and wife Allana of El Dorado, Kansas, London Cooley of El Dorado, Kansas, Dalia Cooley and Dalyn Cooley of Moline, Kansas, and Katie Yager of Emporia, Kansas; her sisters, Mary Riney of Denver, Colorado and Katheryn Doshier of Wichita, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Larry; her sons, Jimmy and Tom, her sisters, Bonnie Knabe, Betty Sallee, and Sue Mills; and her brother, George Fred Knabe.

Visitation will be held at Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas on Thursday, July 15, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Funeral service will be held at the Moline First Baptist Church on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. with interment to follow in the Moline Cemetery.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Moline First Baptist Church or Countryside Funeral Home to help the family with final expenses.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)