Sean Michael Cooley, born April 18, 1969, was killed in action on February 3, 2005, while serving in Iraq.
A member of the Army National Guard's 150th Combat Engineer Battalion from Lucedale, he was a proud member of the military. He served his country for 14 years. When not on active duty, he worked as a registered nurse at Singing River Hospital.
He will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate man full of life. He was a very hard worker, loved by all who knew him. He will be sadly missed by family, friends, and co-workers. Sean enhanced the lives of all who knew him.
Sean is survived by his wife, Laura Cooley, his parents, Jerry and Kathryn Cooley, his brother, Patrick, his maternal grandfather, Frank Pazos, Jr. and his paternal grandparents Amaziah and Inez Cooley, Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Sherry, Aunt Pam, Aunt Cindy, and cousins Andrew, Monique, Robbie, Wyatt, Zane, Courtney, Sam and Michelle. He is also survived by Laura's parents, Mike and Pat Kehoe, and Laura's sister, Jennifer and husband, Jerry Miller.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Pazos.
Visitation will be Friday, February 11, 2005, from 3-9 PM , at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Saturday, February 12, 2005, there will be a 2 PM church service at Antioch Methodist Church in Lucedale, MS., where friends may call from 11 AM - 2 PM . Burial will be in O'Neal Cemetery in Benndale, MS.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to ones' favorite local charity or to any Century Bank in Moss Point, Vancleave, Hurley or Lucedale where a fund in honor of Sean Michael Cooley has been set up.
The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and sign an online register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com
By Holbrook MohrAssociated PressJACKSON, Miss. — Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley was killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle, Guard officials said Friday.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs became the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties killed in the war on terror.His family had no comment when contacted on Friday.Cooley was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale. Guard officials said the Thursday blast is under investigation.The 150th is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Laura Cooley, the soldier’s wife, had told The Associated Press during a Dec. 22 deployment ceremony for the 155th at Camp Shelby that she had mixed emotions about her husband heading into a war zone but she was “very proud” of him.“Words can just not say the pride you feel,” she said at the time.There were smiles and tears at the send-off ceremony that day as thousands of troops fell into formation under overcast skies. The families of many soldiers described the bittersweet moment — knowing that their loved ones would be home for Christmas but in war torn Iraq within weeks.During the send-off ceremony only three days before Christmas, Laura Cooly said she looked forward to spending time with her husband when the unit was given a brief leave before shipping out.“That is the most important thing,” she had said. “It’s going to be a big deal that they get to spend time with their families.”Sean Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq.“Marsha and I are deeply saddened by another death of one of our Mississippians in uniform serving in Iraq,” Gov. Haley Barbour said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cooley family and the other soldiers in his unit.”Maj. Gen. Harold A. Cross, Mississippi’s adjutant general, called Cooley’s death a tragic loss.“We pray daily for all our soldiers in harm’s way, and along with the Cooley family, I know all members of the Mississippi National Guard will mourn the loss of this brave soldier,” Cross said.Funeral services set for Guardsman killed in Iraq JACKSON, Miss. — Funeral services are scheduled Friday for Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley, a Mississippi National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.Cooley died last Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, Guard officials said.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale.“From all accounts that I’ve heard, he was a model soldier and was well-respected among the ranks of everyone in his unit,” Guard spokesman Tim Powell said.Military officials said the blast that killed Cooley is under investigation.“Anytime a soldier is killed in action, an investigation takes place to determine if there are circumstances that contributed to the death other than the obvious,” Powell told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “That is standard operating procedure.”Cooley’s family did not respond to messages on Tuesday.His unit is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq and the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties to give his life in the war on terror.— Associated Press
A member of the Army National Guard's 150th Combat Engineer Battalion from Lucedale, he was a proud member of the military. He served his country for 14 years. When not on active duty, he worked as a registered nurse at Singing River Hospital.
He will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate man full of life. He was a very hard worker, loved by all who knew him. He will be sadly missed by family, friends, and co-workers. Sean enhanced the lives of all who knew him.
Sean is survived by his wife, Laura Cooley, his parents, Jerry and Kathryn Cooley, his brother, Patrick, his maternal grandfather, Frank Pazos, Jr. and his paternal grandparents Amaziah and Inez Cooley, Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Sherry, Aunt Pam, Aunt Cindy, and cousins Andrew, Monique, Robbie, Wyatt, Zane, Courtney, Sam and Michelle. He is also survived by Laura's parents, Mike and Pat Kehoe, and Laura's sister, Jennifer and husband, Jerry Miller.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Pazos.
Visitation will be Friday, February 11, 2005, from 3-9 PM , at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Saturday, February 12, 2005, there will be a 2 PM church service at Antioch Methodist Church in Lucedale, MS., where friends may call from 11 AM - 2 PM . Burial will be in O'Neal Cemetery in Benndale, MS.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to ones' favorite local charity or to any Century Bank in Moss Point, Vancleave, Hurley or Lucedale where a fund in honor of Sean Michael Cooley has been set up.
The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and sign an online register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com
By Holbrook MohrAssociated PressJACKSON, Miss. — Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley was killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle, Guard officials said Friday.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs became the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties killed in the war on terror.His family had no comment when contacted on Friday.Cooley was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale. Guard officials said the Thursday blast is under investigation.The 150th is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Laura Cooley, the soldier’s wife, had told The Associated Press during a Dec. 22 deployment ceremony for the 155th at Camp Shelby that she had mixed emotions about her husband heading into a war zone but she was “very proud” of him.“Words can just not say the pride you feel,” she said at the time.There were smiles and tears at the send-off ceremony that day as thousands of troops fell into formation under overcast skies. The families of many soldiers described the bittersweet moment — knowing that their loved ones would be home for Christmas but in war torn Iraq within weeks.During the send-off ceremony only three days before Christmas, Laura Cooly said she looked forward to spending time with her husband when the unit was given a brief leave before shipping out.“That is the most important thing,” she had said. “It’s going to be a big deal that they get to spend time with their families.”Sean Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq.“Marsha and I are deeply saddened by another death of one of our Mississippians in uniform serving in Iraq,” Gov. Haley Barbour said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cooley family and the other soldiers in his unit.”Maj. Gen. Harold A. Cross, Mississippi’s adjutant general, called Cooley’s death a tragic loss.“We pray daily for all our soldiers in harm’s way, and along with the Cooley family, I know all members of the Mississippi National Guard will mourn the loss of this brave soldier,” Cross said.Funeral services set for Guardsman killed in Iraq JACKSON, Miss. — Funeral services are scheduled Friday for Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley, a Mississippi National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.Cooley died last Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, Guard officials said.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale.“From all accounts that I’ve heard, he was a model soldier and was well-respected among the ranks of everyone in his unit,” Guard spokesman Tim Powell said.Military officials said the blast that killed Cooley is under investigation.“Anytime a soldier is killed in action, an investigation takes place to determine if there are circumstances that contributed to the death other than the obvious,” Powell told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “That is standard operating procedure.”Cooley’s family did not respond to messages on Tuesday.His unit is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq and the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties to give his life in the war on terror.— Associated Press
Sean Michael Cooley, born April 18, 1969, was killed in action on February 3, 2005, while serving in Iraq.
A member of the Army National Guard's 150th Combat Engineer Battalion from Lucedale, he was a proud member of the military. He served his country for 14 years. When not on active duty, he worked as a registered nurse at Singing River Hospital.
He will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate man full of life. He was a very hard worker, loved by all who knew him. He will be sadly missed by family, friends, and co-workers. Sean enhanced the lives of all who knew him.
Sean is survived by his wife, Laura Cooley, his parents, Jerry and Kathryn Cooley, his brother, Patrick, his maternal grandfather, Frank Pazos, Jr. and his paternal grandparents Amaziah and Inez Cooley, Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Sherry, Aunt Pam, Aunt Cindy, and cousins Andrew, Monique, Robbie, Wyatt, Zane, Courtney, Sam and Michelle. He is also survived by Laura's parents, Mike and Pat Kehoe, and Laura's sister, Jennifer and husband, Jerry Miller.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Pazos.
Visitation will be Friday, February 11, 2005, from 3-9 PM , at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Saturday, February 12, 2005, there will be a 2 PM church service at Antioch Methodist Church in Lucedale, MS., where friends may call from 11 AM - 2 PM . Burial will be in O'Neal Cemetery in Benndale, MS.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to ones' favorite local charity or to any Century Bank in Moss Point, Vancleave, Hurley or Lucedale where a fund in honor of Sean Michael Cooley has been set up.
The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and sign an online register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com
By Holbrook MohrAssociated PressJACKSON, Miss. — Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley was killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle, Guard officials said Friday.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs became the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties killed in the war on terror.His family had no comment when contacted on Friday.Cooley was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale. Guard officials said the Thursday blast is under investigation.The 150th is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Laura Cooley, the soldier’s wife, had told The Associated Press during a Dec. 22 deployment ceremony for the 155th at Camp Shelby that she had mixed emotions about her husband heading into a war zone but she was “very proud” of him.“Words can just not say the pride you feel,” she said at the time.There were smiles and tears at the send-off ceremony that day as thousands of troops fell into formation under overcast skies. The families of many soldiers described the bittersweet moment — knowing that their loved ones would be home for Christmas but in war torn Iraq within weeks.During the send-off ceremony only three days before Christmas, Laura Cooly said she looked forward to spending time with her husband when the unit was given a brief leave before shipping out.“That is the most important thing,” she had said. “It’s going to be a big deal that they get to spend time with their families.”Sean Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq.“Marsha and I are deeply saddened by another death of one of our Mississippians in uniform serving in Iraq,” Gov. Haley Barbour said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cooley family and the other soldiers in his unit.”Maj. Gen. Harold A. Cross, Mississippi’s adjutant general, called Cooley’s death a tragic loss.“We pray daily for all our soldiers in harm’s way, and along with the Cooley family, I know all members of the Mississippi National Guard will mourn the loss of this brave soldier,” Cross said.Funeral services set for Guardsman killed in Iraq JACKSON, Miss. — Funeral services are scheduled Friday for Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley, a Mississippi National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.Cooley died last Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, Guard officials said.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale.“From all accounts that I’ve heard, he was a model soldier and was well-respected among the ranks of everyone in his unit,” Guard spokesman Tim Powell said.Military officials said the blast that killed Cooley is under investigation.“Anytime a soldier is killed in action, an investigation takes place to determine if there are circumstances that contributed to the death other than the obvious,” Powell told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “That is standard operating procedure.”Cooley’s family did not respond to messages on Tuesday.His unit is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq and the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties to give his life in the war on terror.— Associated Press
A member of the Army National Guard's 150th Combat Engineer Battalion from Lucedale, he was a proud member of the military. He served his country for 14 years. When not on active duty, he worked as a registered nurse at Singing River Hospital.
He will always be remembered as a kind, compassionate man full of life. He was a very hard worker, loved by all who knew him. He will be sadly missed by family, friends, and co-workers. Sean enhanced the lives of all who knew him.
Sean is survived by his wife, Laura Cooley, his parents, Jerry and Kathryn Cooley, his brother, Patrick, his maternal grandfather, Frank Pazos, Jr. and his paternal grandparents Amaziah and Inez Cooley, Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Sherry, Aunt Pam, Aunt Cindy, and cousins Andrew, Monique, Robbie, Wyatt, Zane, Courtney, Sam and Michelle. He is also survived by Laura's parents, Mike and Pat Kehoe, and Laura's sister, Jennifer and husband, Jerry Miller.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Pazos.
Visitation will be Friday, February 11, 2005, from 3-9 PM , at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Saturday, February 12, 2005, there will be a 2 PM church service at Antioch Methodist Church in Lucedale, MS., where friends may call from 11 AM - 2 PM . Burial will be in O'Neal Cemetery in Benndale, MS.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to ones' favorite local charity or to any Century Bank in Moss Point, Vancleave, Hurley or Lucedale where a fund in honor of Sean Michael Cooley has been set up.
The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and sign an online register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com
By Holbrook MohrAssociated PressJACKSON, Miss. — Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley was killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle, Guard officials said Friday.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs became the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties killed in the war on terror.His family had no comment when contacted on Friday.Cooley was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale. Guard officials said the Thursday blast is under investigation.The 150th is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Laura Cooley, the soldier’s wife, had told The Associated Press during a Dec. 22 deployment ceremony for the 155th at Camp Shelby that she had mixed emotions about her husband heading into a war zone but she was “very proud” of him.“Words can just not say the pride you feel,” she said at the time.There were smiles and tears at the send-off ceremony that day as thousands of troops fell into formation under overcast skies. The families of many soldiers described the bittersweet moment — knowing that their loved ones would be home for Christmas but in war torn Iraq within weeks.During the send-off ceremony only three days before Christmas, Laura Cooly said she looked forward to spending time with her husband when the unit was given a brief leave before shipping out.“That is the most important thing,” she had said. “It’s going to be a big deal that they get to spend time with their families.”Sean Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq.“Marsha and I are deeply saddened by another death of one of our Mississippians in uniform serving in Iraq,” Gov. Haley Barbour said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cooley family and the other soldiers in his unit.”Maj. Gen. Harold A. Cross, Mississippi’s adjutant general, called Cooley’s death a tragic loss.“We pray daily for all our soldiers in harm’s way, and along with the Cooley family, I know all members of the Mississippi National Guard will mourn the loss of this brave soldier,” Cross said.Funeral services set for Guardsman killed in Iraq JACKSON, Miss. — Funeral services are scheduled Friday for Sgt. 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley, a Mississippi National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.Cooley died last Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, Guard officials said.Cooley, 35, of Ocean Springs was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 150th Combat Engineer Battalion headquartered in Lucedale.“From all accounts that I’ve heard, he was a model soldier and was well-respected among the ranks of everyone in his unit,” Guard spokesman Tim Powell said.Military officials said the blast that killed Cooley is under investigation.“Anytime a soldier is killed in action, an investigation takes place to determine if there are circumstances that contributed to the death other than the obvious,” Powell told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “That is standard operating procedure.”Cooley’s family did not respond to messages on Tuesday.His unit is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team that includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and left for the Middle East last month.Cooley is the fifth Mississippi National Guard soldier to die in Iraq and the 21st soldier with Mississippi ties to give his life in the war on terror.— Associated Press
