Family and friends will bid farewell to Allan William Cooney after his unexpected passing on Monday morning Dec. 3 -- his big and generous heart stopped suddenly during a short hospital stay. He was 69 and is missed more than words can say. Condolences from the world over continue to arrive for the jovial Englishman who made the Memphis-area home in 1984 upon transfer from London-based Sortex.
He leaves behind his wife, Joan O'Grady; his daughter Sarra Goodwin, her husband (Mac) and grandson Andy; and, his son Ian, his partner Georgia Laroque and her son Ryan. Also remembering him fondly and in Memphis to say goodbye are his sisters-in-law: Elizabeth O'Grady and Georgina O'Grady and dearly missed by Anne O'Grady Fallon (husband Bernie and children Maeve, Shauna and Aengus).
His second family in Memphis also mourns him -- "brother" Brian Whiteacre, wife Catherine and their daughters Gillian Dixon (Chris) and Aoife Murphy (Cash).
Born in 1949 to Louisa Baker and James Cooney in East London, Allan regaled friends with stories told in jolly accent -- his was genuine Cockney, by virtue of birth within earshot of the Bow bells. Allan oft described the playgrounds of his youth -- bomb sites in rebuilding London.
A tinkerer, Allan took to computers, building a desktop model in 1978 and later expanding his circle of friends on early versions of the Internet. His computer engineering career with Sortex (now Buhler) sent him around the world, including to the Philippines, where he caught the golf bug so fierce not even his unique swing could deter him from 18 holes with friends. He was always in demand for card games.
As one friend said, "With Allan, it was about much more than playing golf or cards -- it was about joking and laughing and having a drink or two. It was all about having fun."
He loved being home with family on weekends and traveling with them in summers. Allan loved shopping -- it was an adventure aimed at finding just the right gift (something you needed or did not know you needed). He finished Christmas shopping for this year before December.
Among the tributes on Facebook, this rang true to all: "He was one of a kind, the salt of the earth. His grandson will grow up knowing how wonderful he was. We will keep his memory alive always. Thank you...thank you for being you. Thank you for your love. Thank you for the never-ending laughs and weird jokes I sometimes didn't get!"
Family Funeral Care has charge with services: Visitation 1- 2 pm Sunday with services to follow at Memphis Funeral Home 3700 N Germantown Rd Bartlett, TN.
Memorials can go to Allan's favored charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
