July 13, 1929 – Oct. 23, 2022
Elsie Cooley, 93, of Springfield, Ore. passed away on Oct. 23, 2022. She was born on July 13, 1929, to Stanley and Hattie Keyes.
She has now joined her lifelong husband and partner, Eugene (Gene) Cooley, to whom she was married for 65 years. She was also preceded in death by all of her siblings: Hazel Laiho, Dora Edwards, Donald Keyes, Virginia “Ginny” Darkins, and Leslie Burbee.
Elsie leaves behind two children, Arnold Cooley and Brenda (Cooley) Stayner, six grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren.
Elsie attended Springfield High School. She met Gene when she was 16, while working at The Crest confectionary store. They were married on July 3, 1948.
Elsie was a stay-at-home mom, and also cleaned houses while her children were in school. She sewed most of her family’s clothes, and enjoyed making her and Gene matching square dancing outfits.
Elsie and Gene loved to dance, and square danced with the “Shooting Stars” for many years. They were also members of the Springfield Elks and the Eagles Lodge of Springfield where they danced and visited with friends every weekend.
One of her favorite dances was the Viennese waltz, and she was always on the lookout for the perfect pair of dancing shoes. She lived in Springfield her whole life except for two years when she and Gene lived in Gold Beach, Ore.
After Gene retired, they traveled around in their motorhome, camping and fishing with family and friends. Elsie loved to play cards, listen to music and to get her hair done at the beauty parlor. She loved flowers and gardening and her backyard was spectacular with her favorite flower, dahlias. A service will be held on Monday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. Reception to follow at Musgrove’s Mortuaries.
