Geneva M Cooley

Geneva M Cooley (Godby) passed away in her sleep at the John Knox Village Care Center in Lees Summit, Missouri, ending her long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born January 22, 1935 in Oak Hill West Virginia to Fannie Loraine Mills Godby and Lacy Hume Godby. She was raised by her beloved mother Fannie with her sister Margaret and brothers Forest and Joe, in South Charleston, West Virginia, whom all along with nephew Jim Knudson preceded her in death.

She met and married her husband Frank E Cooley 3rd of 56 years when he attended a seminar for his CPA business career; and moved to the Cincinnati area to raise their son Frank and daughter Loraine near the Cooley family. In retirement they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 2010 near their son Frank and his wife Margie, and after Frank 3rd passed, Geneva moved to Lees Summit for memory care in 2016, near her daughter Loraine in Kansas City, Missouri.

Geneva was a homemaker keeping her family near and far, connected to each other, and clerked for Frank at his CPA office. Geneva loved to tell stories for children and wrote poetry all her life, humorous about nature, and about life with devoted faith in Jesus Christ. She enjoyed classical music and opera, and many types of crafts and hobbies. She collected antique glass including her favorite colorful Blenko glass from West Virginia.

She and Frank 3rd took the children exploring nature and history on a bus tour all the way to Canada, the Outer Banks of North Carolina to tour lighthouses, and weekend trips to caverns such as Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Geneva uplifted those around her, offering food, clothing and simple gifts in times of need. She sought to give love to others and to be loved.

She is survived by her daughter Loraine Cutter (Cooley) in Kansas City, Missouri, son Frank Cooley (wife Margie Wilson) in Grand Junction Colorado, Elizabeth Cooley in Ft Thomas Kentucky, and niece and nephews and their families.

A service is pending and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your church food pantry, Goodwill, pet shelter, the Alzheimer’s or ALS Associations or National Wildlife Federation.