Gary Wayne Cooley, 68, of LaPorte, IN, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at LaPorte Hospital.
He was born Jan. 23, 1951, in LaPorte to Oliver Leo and Ruby Della (Bennett) Cooley.
Gary worked in maintenance for 36 years at Roll Coater. He was a veteran of the United States Army. His favorite pastimes included fishing, camping and tinkering. He loved his grandkids and his dog. He really cared for everyone and was always there to help. Gary was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
On Aug. 27, 1976, in LaPorte, he married Sharon Kay Boardman, who survives.
Also surviving are his beloved children, Lisa (Bob) O’Banion, Heidi (Tim) Smart and Donald (Aura) Cooley; 14 grandchildren, Jill, Eric, Nicole, Max, Mariah, Jade, Sonny, Stacy, Megan, Kerry, David, Noell, Aaron, and Ronell; 5 great-grandchildren, Adam, Austin, Olivia, Sephoria and Raiden; siblings, Betty Inman, Rose (Jerry) Jozwiak, William Cooley, LeoMae Ritter, Thelma Cooley, Jerry (Penni) Cooley, Orville (Karen) Cooley, Ida Cooley Cook, Patti (Bruce) Vermilyer, Carl (Sharon) Cooley, Jeana (Allen) Blake, and Tim Cooley; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his buddy, Emma, his mixed Boston Terrier.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte, with Pastor JoEllyn Chadwick officiating. Full military honors will be presented. A time of visitation will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the service at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674; or the American Diabetes Association, 55 E. Monroe St., Suite 3420, Chicago, IL 60603.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.