Tributes

Joel Christopher “Chris” Cooley was received into the loving and merciful arms of his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of November 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the firstborn of proud parents JC Cooley and Elouise Cotton Cooley, arriving at the Nix Memorial Hospital on the afternoon of March 5, 1952 in San Antonio. Chris attended NISD’s original Locke Hill Elementary School, John Marshall High School (member of the great and infamous class of ’70!) and Trinity University. He excelled in school, especially in the areas of math and science, and received his BBA Cum Laude. During his senior year at Trinity and immediately after graduation, Chris gained his first business and marketing experience with the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce which he thoroughly enjoyed. The next few years were spent working with his father and brother in a family endeavor where he gained business experience that would serve him well in his next career move. It was on March 1, 1999 that he joined the sales force of Ben E. Keith Foods, San Antonio Division. That decision changed the course of his and Debbie’s life. Joining the BEK family was a move they never regretted. BEK afforded them opportunities, experiences and travel they had never even dreamed of enjoying. Chris worked hard to build a sales territory practically from scratch, and in doing so, became a mentor and advisor to many people new to sales. Because of his experience, organizational skills and sales success, Chris was asked to move into a supervisory position as District Sales Manager. His territory extended far and wide - from San Antonio north to Fredericksburg, west to Del Rio and south to Devine and beyond - and Chris loved traveling to all the little towns and restaurants in between. Meeting new people and advising his sales reps became his new focus. It was at BEK that he adopted and tried to live according to the quote “Positive Mental Attitude” (PMA) which came from a story he heard about another salesman’s personal experience in gaining his customers’ trust. Chris lived PMA not only in his business career, but also in his personal everyday living. He has been described as ‘”a gentleman” and was the most patient, kind and gentlest man in a world where those qualities are not always appreciated. In fact, once when coaching his daughter’s softball team, he took heated issue with an umpire’s call. Amusingly, the team parents forgot to be outraged at the call; they were all marveling at the fact that Chris could actually get mad and yell! It was quite the novel experience for all in attendance! He was thoughtful to a fault, never forgetting family birthdays, anniversaries and other dates of importance to those he loved. He lived to bring delight and surprises to his family, especially to his wife, Debbie, the girl who chased him junior year of high school until she caught him! His love of the outdoors and the geology of our world began as a young boy when he would collect rocks at all the places to which his family traveled on summer vacations. Chris often regretted changing his college major from geology to business. He was fascinated with rocks, minerals and land formations and was able to indulge that love of geology after retirement when he finally had the time to devote to it. He joined two rock hounding and gem and mineral associations and there found a whole new group of friends with a common interest. He began to travel to the Big Bend area in search of Texas agate, also fulfilling his love of the outdoors, hiking and camping. Traveling was another goal he planned to attain upon retirement. He and Debbie took many trips, as far away as Alaska and Hawaii and as close as Lockhart. However, his favorite places to be were National Parks, and he never tired of repeated trips to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks as well as the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Of all Chris’ many loves - rocks, minerals, his yard and plants, cooking, traveling, camping, hiking, photography, friends, Ben E. Keith Foods, National Parks and, yes, the Aggies - none could compare to his love for his family. Beginning with his love for his brother, Craig, and his four Yantis cousins (who were more like brothers and sisters as they were all growing up together) and ending with his five grandchildren (Abby, Caleb, Austin, David and Audrey), his devotion was unceasing and unwavering. He liked to watch out for Craig as only a big brother can; he teased his Louisiana cousin, Cindy, who was like a sister with a Southern accent; he still loved Debbie and welcomed her back with open arms even after she decided they needed a break during freshman year of college; he took such pride and pleasure watching his only son, Christopher, grow into an outstanding man; he adored his little girl, the apple of his eye, who could talk him into anything with a bat of those eyelashes; and, oh! the grandchildren! the beautiful, smart, athletic, hilarious and adorable to whom he passed on his love of plants and rocks and minerals, and who he wanted to go see even when he was so sick - how he loved them! And how they loved him, their “Bida”, how we will all miss him, but are assured of joining him one day in the Paradise our Heavenly Father has prepared for all of us. Chris is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Deborah Black Cooley; daughter, Jennifer Peace (Tyler); son, Chris Cooley (Elizabeth); brother, Craig Cooley (Diana); grandchildren, Abby, Austin and Audrey Peace, Caleb and David Cooley; cousins, Mike Yantis (Patty), Tom Yantis (Susan), Nancy Austin (Hank), Susan Yantis, and Cindy Clark (Mike); nephew Randy Cooley (Megan) and sons Noah and Hank Cooley; and niece Katy Havelka (Tim). SERVICES Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from 5:00pm-8:00pm, with a Rosary at 6:00pm at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 13715 Riggs Rd., Helotes, TX. 78023. Interment will follow at Mission Burial Park North. In lieu of flowers, Chris’ desire was for donations to The National Park Service: https://home.nps.gov/getinvolved/donate.htm Or The National Park Foundation: https://give.nationalparks.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3144&mfc_pref=T&3144.donation=form1

Tributes

Joel Christopher Cooley

March 5, 1952 - November 7, 2024