Terry was born in 1947 to James and Jessica (Smith) Cooley in southeast Missouri. When he wasn’t playing little league baseball, he was helping with family finances by picking cherries in the orchards or picking cotton in the cotton fields.
When his mom and dad divorced, his dad moved Terry and his sister, Gwinn to Illinois. No more little league baseball, just school. When he graduated high school, he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in South Korea when North Korea captured the U.S.S. Pueblo. After his tour of duty in South Korea, he returned to the states and served as a guard at the Nike Missile Base in Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, IL.
After leaving the Army, he met and married the love of his life, Sharon Wierciszewski. He started working at the Alton and Southern Railroad, where he worked for 50 years. He had one son, Terry “Jim” J. Cooley, Jr. of whom he was very proud. He coached a Belle Clair Soccer League team for Jim for 3 years, along with Jerry Jowett. He enjoyed doing it thoroughly and Jim was a good stryker, lots of enjoyment. He also took Jim to remote control racing track in Cahokia every week for lots of racing.
Before we knew it, he became a Grandpa to a wonderful grandson, Geoffrey. Geoffrey was a wonderful blessing.
Terry was a loving Husband, Dad and Grandpa. Terry was a member of the Masonic Lodge 24, a member of Ainad Shrine in East St. Louis, IL and in the Directors Staff at Ainad Shrine. He was a member of the V.F.W. and a St. Louis Cardinal fan.
He leaves behind his wife, Sharon, son Jim, grandson Geoffrey, former daughter-in-law, Angie, sister Gwinn, brother, David, sister-in-law, Barbara and Bob, nephews and nieces. Chuck, Jeff, Lee, April, JaeAnn, Beth, Teddy Joe, Kristina, a great-niece and great-nephews. His great friends, Roy and Gwin Kessler. He was preceded by his sister, Paula Ruth, his mother, Jessica and his father, James and his niece, Stephanie Rae Eiskant Brown.
Thank you CCSI doctors, nurses and therapists and HSHS Hospice for their tender care of Terry. Thank you to Brother Romine and his congregation for their many thoughts and needed prayers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children or to the Wounded Warrior Project.
A visitation for Terry will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 12:00 P.M.- 1:00 P.M. at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, IL.
A memorial service will immediately follow the visitation, at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home, where military honors will be rendered.
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