Barbara Elaine Cooley

Barbara leaves behind a rich legacy of love and family. She is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was greeted by her beloved husband, Charles Cooley Jr. who passed away in 1979. Also preceding her are Barbara’s parents, Art and Alice Captain; her sister, Virginia Green; her brother, Robert Captain; and her grandson, David Simonait.

Barbara is survived by her four devoted children: Steven (Karla) Cooley, Susan (John) Simonait, Phillip (Cynthia) Cooley, and Michael (Robin) Cooley. She is also fondly remembered by her brother, Dennis (Mary) Captain, along with the following grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Benjamin (Melissa) Cooley and their children Sativa, Willow, and Morgan; Sarah (Eric) Mast and their children Jacob, Levi, and Rebekah; Joshua (Tina) Cooley and their children Jonah, Micah, and Simon; John Simonait; Dr. Michelle (Dr. Kingsley) Osuala and their children Kayden and Violet; Jenna (John) Shomler and their child, Eilam; Nick Gray; Christina (Ben) West and their son, Oliver; Aaron (Harmony) Gray and their children Logan and Declan; Michael (Brittany) Cooley and their son, Kaemin; Matthew (Victoria) Cooley and their children Willem and Arden; Amanda (Kenn) Remo and their children Zachary and Isaiah (Alaina) Remo and their son, Bentley; Doug (Erin) Ottenwess. Barbara is also survived by many nieces and nephews who all brought her joy.

Barbara was known for her strength and nurturing spirit. She dedicated her life to her family, always providing warmth and comfort to those around her. Throughout her life, Barbara was also a hardworking and dedicated woman.She worked at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in baggage security, where she continued to demonstrate her strong work ethic and commitment to serving others. She later traveled throughout West Michigan while working for D & W, where she enjoyed doing food demonstrations and meeting people in communities across the area. Her unwavering support, love, and dedication will be cherished by all who knew her.

The family invites loved ones to celebrate Barbara’s life 11 a.m. Friday, October 2, 2026, at Cook Funeral Home, 2067 84th Street SW, Byron Center, Michigan 49315 with visitation one hour prior.

The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresbyron.com in their guestbook online.