Ralph E. Cooley

Ralph E. �Mike� Cooley, 98, died on Friday, January 6, 2017 at home. Born in Staffordville, CT to the late Omer and Maude (Smith) Cooley, he has lived most of his life in East Longmeadow. He was employed as a weaver at Stafford and Monson Textile Mills. He retired as a foreman for the former Falls Machine Screw Co. of Chicopee after 50 years of service. A member of First Congregational Church in East Longmeadow, he was also a member of the auxillary police in East Longmeadow for 25 years and served as Assessor for the Town of Stafford Springs, CT for three years. In the 1938 flood, he helped �sandbagging� at the dam to save the lake in Staffordville, CT. An avid tennis player, he was approached by Don Budge, Grand Slam winner, who asked him to play in Concord, NH. He assisted in establishing and was treasurer of the East Longmeadow Recreation Assoc. and coached town teams in baseball, hockey, soccer and basketball. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Margaret �Margie� (Ackerman) Cooley in 2016. They were married for 76 years. Survivors include, his son Ralph E. Cooley and his wife Barbara of Springfield, two sisters; Jean Dupont of Stafford Springs, CT and Olive Cooley of Stafford Springs, CT, one brother Richard Cooley and his wife Cynthia of Eastford, CT, two grandchildren; Heather Rehder and her husband Brian and Laura Cushman and her husband Scott and 2 great grandchildren; Hannah and Zachary Cushman. Mike was predeceased by three sisters; Marjorie Bren, Doris Sanger and Winifred Reynolds. A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 11th at 10:30 am in Greenlawn Cemetery, East Longmeadow. Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham, is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions in Ralph�s name may be made to Spectrum Home & Hospice Care, 770 Converse St., Longmeadow, MA 01106 or to Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307.