COMMERCE – James Glass Cooley, 89, a longtime resident of Washington, D.C., died Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
Born December 31, 1920, in Jefferson, he was the son of Judge and Mrs. Temberton Cooley and grew up in Jefferson and Lawrenceville. He graduated from Lawrenceville High School and the Georgia School of Technology with a BS in Industrial Management and a minor in architecture. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the Ninth Air Force in the European Theater, leaving the Army Air Force with the rank of Technical Sergeant. Before and after the war, Mr. Cooley was employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, establishing a long career as an expert in personnel classification. In 1951 he located in Washington D.C., after having lived in Knoxville, Tenn. And Jacksonville, Fla. He lived in Washington until 2007 except for a three-year stint in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at which he was employed by the Aramco Oil Company. In Washington, he was employed by the US Navy Department in wage and classification then at the Colony House as principal interior designer and buyer. He returned to Jefferson in 2007 to share his brother Tom’s home and thence to Commerce.
Jim Cooley was a true romantic. In the midst of the European invasion following D-Day, he would sneak into the bleak city of Paris to admire its charms as best could be done in the midst of a world war. He introduced each nephew and niece and great-nephew and great-niece in turn to the wonders of our nation’s capital, never tiring of having each memorize the quote written around the head of Thomas Jefferson at his memorial: “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” He admired classical architecture becoming an expert in the stately homes and other buildings in all of the places he visited. Mr. Cooley loved classical music and especially organ music. He was a keen observer of the construction of the Washington National Cathedral, which was located near his residence, and was a faithful attender of the Sunday afternoon organ concerts there.
Mr. Cooley was faithful to his family, always participating in family events. He was the unofficial family historian, regaling all with his stories of past relatives. He was a major force in keeping the family connected, especially when, in his eighties, he entered the world of email.
Survivors include a sister, Martha Dean Fite Head, Jefferson; brother, Hugh Thompson Cooley, Commerce; 11 nephews and nieces; 25 great-nephews and nieces; 23 great-great-nephews and nieces; and four great-great-great-nephews and nieces.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, February 18, at 2 p.m. at Woodbine Cemetery in Jefferson.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.