Curtis Cooley's Birthday

Digging around the roots of the family tree gives you many opportunities to learn previously unknown facts. I knew Curtis Cooley was the grandson of Lacy and Aggie Cooley, and the second child of George and Mary Cooley. I have since learned Curtis was born on May 28, 1899 in Coaling, Alabama. By the time Curtis was five years old, the Cooleys (including older brother, Edward) had moved to Missouri. This is where little sister Georgia Elizabeth was born in 1904. Within six years the family had continued further north to Iowa, where they lived in Center Township. This was an area north of the Des Moines River, outside of the Ottumwa city limits.

In 1915, the family had migrated to Enterprise, Iowa. This is where Curtis begin working in the coal mines with his father and brother. A few years later, Curtis met and soon married Creasy Southall. They had two sons, Leonard and Curtis, Jr. Looking for a new beginning and job, Curtis moved his family to Detroit, Michigan. Within days of moving there, Curtis found work in one of the mines in the Detroit area. Not all details are known, but there was an accident in the coal mine and Curtis was killed.

Big sister, Victoria Cooley Cogwell took charge and made the funeral arrangements. The body was shipped back to Des Moines for burial in the family plot in Glendale Cemetary. Shortly after the untimely death of Curtis, all contact with Creasy and the two sons ended. For many years, there has been no news of the Detroit Cooleys. I have done some research and learned Curtis Cooley's descendants are living in the Detroit area today. Curtis Cooley (dropping the "Junior" after his father's death) married and had a son he named, Curtis Cooley, Junior. Three generations of Cooley men have been named Curtis. It all began on May 28, 1899 in Coaling, Alabama... Happy Birthday, Uncle Curtis.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Timothy

Timothy Celebrates Sixth Birthday in Des Moines

My sixth birthday was a memorable one. It was the first time I left town to celebrate my birthday. Grandma, Grandpa, Toyia and I stayed with Aunt Mac and her sons, Kevin and Michael. I'm smiling as I write. I smile because I recall how excited I was. My cake wasn't homemade, it was purchased at Dahl's - the grocery store where Grandma would shop whenever we were in Des Moines. Grandma and Aunt Mac allowed me to pick the birthday cake of my choice. I chose one with orange frosting, thinking the frosting would taste like an orange. I was so happy! That soon changed when we got home with the cake. I learned I had to eat dinner before I could have any cake. I don't recall the exact time, but I know preparing, cooking and eating dinner took an eternity in my six year old mind.

When we finished dinner, it was time for the cake. Before the cake was cut, candles were lit, a picture with my BIG cousins was taken, and "Happy Birthday" was sung. When I got the first piece of cake, I smiled and dug right in. It took what I deemed a long time, but I finally got to taste my cake. Though the frosting did not have any orange flavoring, the entire cake was good to me. That was thirty-eight years ago. I will always remember the fun time and love of my family when I think of my sixth birthday.

Happy Anniversary Bob and Vel

Today is Grandma and Grandpa's wedding anniversary. One thing we can thank Grandpa for is Saint Paul, which is home for us today. There was a new job waiting for him in Los Angeles. Before he moved to the West Coast, Grandpa visited friends living in Saint Paul. Some of his classmates from Moberly, Missouri had moved to Minnesota years before.

Spending time in Saint Paul changed his mind about the move to Cali. Grandpa decided the move would be to Minnesota and not California. Within a matter of days the new resident found a job. There was no more "California Dreamin" - this was home. Minnesota is a nice place to live, but I'd like to ask my Grandfather WHY he chose one over the other. Inquiring minds really need to know.


Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa - we love you.

Happy Birthday, Dominick

Dominick Joseph was born eleven years ago today. Where does this young man fit in our Cooley line-up? He's the great-great-great-great grandson of Lacy and Aggie Cooley; the great-great-great grandson of George and Mary Cooley; the great-great grandson of Edward and Ethyl Cooley and the great grandson of Eugene "Eckie Bud" and Helen Cooley.

Dominick and his cousin Cheryl (the UNRULEY one) share a common interest, music. He is taking lessons and playing the cello. His grandma Lucy says he's, "the next Yo-Yo Ma." Quite an accomplishment for the young hockey player. Whether it's music, sports or cars, Dominick puts his all into whatever interests him.


His parents Maria and Tom are quite proud of their son, today and everyday. When we visited Des Moines a few years back for the family reunion, "Dom" was doing what so many of us have done in the past, "taking a ride" with Grandpa Larry. It's nice to know that family tradition continues.

Happy Birthday, DOMINATOR - or as I like to call him, DOMINATION!

The Way I See It...

In a little more than a week I will be 44 years old. Do I feel older? No, not so much. I can't say that I feel older. Do I look older? I'd like to think I don't, but this damn gray hair says I do. Life is good and I am most certainly enjoying it! I quit smoking cigarettes nine months ago. I haven't had a drink in two and a half months. I working on getting rid of the extra pounds that appeared overnight. Okay, overnight was a period of about five years, two months and three days. Still, I am determined to do it. I mean honestly, if my family survived living in Alabama in the 1800's, I most certainly can drop a few pounds without whining and sniveling my way thru it. Each day I'm making progress towards the end result - living and looking good. I'm not sure what this new year will bring me, but I am ready to receive my bountiful blessings.

Grandpa

Grandpa has been in my thoughts lately. I guess that means it's time to share a story about him. Grandpa loved and spoiled me greatly. If there was something I THOUGHT I wanted, he made certain I had it. I always enjoyed spending time with him when I was a little boy. I recall a time my grandmother asked my grandfather to go to the store to get a couple of things. Grandpa went to Tom Thumb and I tagged right along. He got the bread and half & half grandma wanted him to get and I got a Suzy-Q and cherry slush. When we completed our purchases, I got to sit on his lap and drive the red Chevy Impala home. I didn't pay attention to where we were heading, I watched his foot pressing the gas and brake pedals. Grandpa told me it was more important to pay attention to the road and less to his foot. I quickly looked ahead and steered the big red car down the street. We took pictures when we got home from the store. I'm using some those pictures in this post. They remind me of that fun day with Grandpa.

A Special Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
MOM

GRANDMA

GREAT-GRANDMA

I had this brilliant idea to put together a slide show to honor all the mothers in the family. Last month I created a folder to place the pics I planned to use. After a little time and delay, I started working on the project yesterday. Yep, yesterday. I spent a few hours working on this. Well, I JUST finished it. It turned into a ten minute (YES, 10 MINUTES) presentation. As far as I'm concerned, it's a done deal. I see several MORE things I could add (visual effects, etc), but this will become a mini-series if I don't put a stop to it. If there is a person missing, it's simply because I don't have a picture. Knowing how much effort this takes, I'm going to begin work on the FATHER'S DAY slide show A.S.A.P.

Press the play button to view the slide show.

I Rise, I Rise, I Rise!

The "Unruley" one is back! She's still just as funky as ever, but she's busted out with a new band and a new look. Unruley will always put some STANK on whatever she plays. If there are any questions about what's REALLY going on here, KLYMAXX recently performed to a sold out house in Tucson, Arizona. Several reliable sources have revealed to me the folks are still talking about the great performance. "Nobody can touch Klymaxx featuring Cheryl Cooley, they brought down the house here at the Desert Diamond Casino and Hotel last week, April 23, 2010. Thank you Cheryl, your show was over the top. Tucson is still talking about the Klymaxx Show! Please send my best regards to your ladies as well, you will be coming back soon! Great job....." Bruce McClure. Someone told her to BRANG IT and she did - with her bad self!

STANK!!! nuff said.