May 31, 1944 – October 15, 2020
Donald Ross Pooley, aged 76, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, Florida after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on May 31, 1944 to Elmer and Katherine Pooley in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated high school from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1962. From 1965 until 1971, he served in and was honorably discharged from the Maryland National Guard and Army Reserve. Starting as a maintenance technician in 1963 at Western Electric, Don’s hard work and dedication paid off and he was promoted to Purchasing Manager. By 1983, Western Electric was part of AT & T, and Don was transferred to Omaha. After 26 successful years with the company, he retired in 1989 and he and his wife, Greer, moved to Lake Ozark, Missouri where Don enjoyed life on the lake, his boat, and his favorite lakefront restaurant and bar, Shooters. In the early 2000’s Don made his way to Florida, a place he visited frequently in his younger days, to bask in the sun and enjoy the beach lifestyle like his father had so many years ago. Not one to sit idly by and watch the days go by, he found part-time work at a local Toyota dealership, and a few years later settled into a position with the City of Sanibel as a parking enforcement officer.
No one who knew Don could forget his passion for gardening and sports. Most days he could be found outside tending his plants and flowers with his neighbor and good friend, Murray. He was a huge fan of NASCAR and loved his Baltimore Ravens. In his younger days, he played in a local football league and ice hockey league and frequently attended professional soccer and ice hockey games with his wife and children.
Don is survived by his wife of 46 years, Frances Greer; his two daughters, Lyn Moore and Julie Pooley; his son, Michael Pooley; his five grandsons, Tyler, Trent, Nicholas, Connor, and Luke; and his precious great-granddaughter, Avery; as well as his closest friends, Clark and Murray. Don was a kind, caring and loving husband, father, and Pop-Pop. He was so proud of his grandsons’ accomplishments: Tyler as a graduate of University of Nebraska, Trent a successful businessman like his dad, Nicholas a devoted and loving father to Avery, Connor a talented musician, and Luke an energetic young man who visited his Pop-Pop every morning before school to have a donut with him and teach him about video games. His daughters, Lyn and Julie, were blessed and honored to spend his final days with him at Hope Hospice and will always cherish the precious hours spent holding their father’s hands. Don will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved him. Although the family is profoundly saddened by his passing, he will forever be in our hearts and will live on through his children and grandchildren. He is in the care of Hodges-Kiser Funeral Home of Fort Myers, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Michael J. Fox Foundation www.michaeljfox.org or The Parkinson’s Research Foundation www.parkinsonhope.org.
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