Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. was born to Jesse E. Cooley, Sr. and Beatrice M. Cooley on November 2, 1931, in Fresno, Ca.
Jesse attended Columbia Grammar School and Thomas A. Edison Junior High.
While attending Thomas Edison Senior High School he served as class president, lead drummer of the Edison Band, and sang in the Boys Glee Club. He was also a star track athlete.
He attended Sacramento State and Fresno State College.
His community activities included participation in the YMCA and numerous church activities.
Jesse's love of music led him to pursue a career in music where he played professionally with the Cat Tjader Band. He also played with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.
In 1952 Jesse played in the Sacramento "MoMo Club" with his dear friend Kirk Kirkland.
In 1953 Jesse partnered with Andrew Riclo in Vallejo, Ca. to open Cooley-Riclo Mortuary, the first black funeral home in Solano, Ca.
Four years later Mr. Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. purchased Valley Funeral Home, the first black funeral home in the San Joaquin Valley from his father and renamed it Jesse E Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
In 1968 he relocated his business to 1830 S. Fruit Avenue where he renamed it Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
Mr. Jesse E. Cooley Jr. was preceded in death by his oldest son, Jesse E. Cooley III.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Taylor-Cooley; previous wife Jennie-Calles Cooley; sons, Stephen R. Cooley, David A. Cooley, Phillip M. Cooley, and Corey D. Cooley; his daughters, Lisa C. Oliver and Christie M. Cooley; his sister, Dorythea Cooley Williams; and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held at Jesse E. Cooley, Jr.
Funeral Home on Thursday, July 28, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, July 29, 2011, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at Fresno Convention Center in the Ernest E. Valdez Hall on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., with public viewing from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
JESSE E. COOLEY, JR. FUNERAL SERVICE 1830 South Fruit Avenue Fresno, California
Published in the Fresno Bee on July 24, 2011
Jesse attended Columbia Grammar School and Thomas A. Edison Junior High.
While attending Thomas Edison Senior High School he served as class president, lead drummer of the Edison Band, and sang in the Boys Glee Club. He was also a star track athlete.
He attended Sacramento State and Fresno State College.
His community activities included participation in the YMCA and numerous church activities.
Jesse's love of music led him to pursue a career in music where he played professionally with the Cat Tjader Band. He also played with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.
In 1952 Jesse played in the Sacramento "MoMo Club" with his dear friend Kirk Kirkland.
In 1953 Jesse partnered with Andrew Riclo in Vallejo, Ca. to open Cooley-Riclo Mortuary, the first black funeral home in Solano, Ca.
Four years later Mr. Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. purchased Valley Funeral Home, the first black funeral home in the San Joaquin Valley from his father and renamed it Jesse E Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
In 1968 he relocated his business to 1830 S. Fruit Avenue where he renamed it Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
Mr. Jesse E. Cooley Jr. was preceded in death by his oldest son, Jesse E. Cooley III.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Taylor-Cooley; previous wife Jennie-Calles Cooley; sons, Stephen R. Cooley, David A. Cooley, Phillip M. Cooley, and Corey D. Cooley; his daughters, Lisa C. Oliver and Christie M. Cooley; his sister, Dorythea Cooley Williams; and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held at Jesse E. Cooley, Jr.
Funeral Home on Thursday, July 28, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, July 29, 2011, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at Fresno Convention Center in the Ernest E. Valdez Hall on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., with public viewing from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
JESSE E. COOLEY, JR. FUNERAL SERVICE 1830 South Fruit Avenue Fresno, California
Published in the Fresno Bee on July 24, 2011
Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. was born to Jesse E. Cooley, Sr. and Beatrice M. Cooley on November 2, 1931, in Fresno, Ca.
Jesse attended Columbia Grammar School and Thomas A. Edison Junior High.
While attending Thomas Edison Senior High School he served as class president, lead drummer of the Edison Band, and sang in the Boys Glee Club. He was also a star track athlete.
He attended Sacramento State and Fresno State College.
His community activities included participation in the YMCA and numerous church activities.
Jesse's love of music led him to pursue a career in music where he played professionally with the Cat Tjader Band. He also played with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.
In 1952 Jesse played in the Sacramento "MoMo Club" with his dear friend Kirk Kirkland.
In 1953 Jesse partnered with Andrew Riclo in Vallejo, Ca. to open Cooley-Riclo Mortuary, the first black funeral home in Solano, Ca.
Four years later Mr. Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. purchased Valley Funeral Home, the first black funeral home in the San Joaquin Valley from his father and renamed it Jesse E Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
In 1968 he relocated his business to 1830 S. Fruit Avenue where he renamed it Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
Mr. Jesse E. Cooley Jr. was preceded in death by his oldest son, Jesse E. Cooley III.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Taylor-Cooley; previous wife Jennie-Calles Cooley; sons, Stephen R. Cooley, David A. Cooley, Phillip M. Cooley, and Corey D. Cooley; his daughters, Lisa C. Oliver and Christie M. Cooley; his sister, Dorythea Cooley Williams; and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held at Jesse E. Cooley, Jr.
Funeral Home on Thursday, July 28, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, July 29, 2011, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at Fresno Convention Center in the Ernest E. Valdez Hall on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., with public viewing from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
JESSE E. COOLEY, JR. FUNERAL SERVICE 1830 South Fruit Avenue Fresno, California
Published in the Fresno Bee on July 24, 2011
Jesse attended Columbia Grammar School and Thomas A. Edison Junior High.
While attending Thomas Edison Senior High School he served as class president, lead drummer of the Edison Band, and sang in the Boys Glee Club. He was also a star track athlete.
He attended Sacramento State and Fresno State College.
His community activities included participation in the YMCA and numerous church activities.
Jesse's love of music led him to pursue a career in music where he played professionally with the Cat Tjader Band. He also played with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton.
In 1952 Jesse played in the Sacramento "MoMo Club" with his dear friend Kirk Kirkland.
In 1953 Jesse partnered with Andrew Riclo in Vallejo, Ca. to open Cooley-Riclo Mortuary, the first black funeral home in Solano, Ca.
Four years later Mr. Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. purchased Valley Funeral Home, the first black funeral home in the San Joaquin Valley from his father and renamed it Jesse E Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
In 1968 he relocated his business to 1830 S. Fruit Avenue where he renamed it Jesse E. Cooley, Jr. Funeral Service.
Mr. Jesse E. Cooley Jr. was preceded in death by his oldest son, Jesse E. Cooley III.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Taylor-Cooley; previous wife Jennie-Calles Cooley; sons, Stephen R. Cooley, David A. Cooley, Phillip M. Cooley, and Corey D. Cooley; his daughters, Lisa C. Oliver and Christie M. Cooley; his sister, Dorythea Cooley Williams; and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held at Jesse E. Cooley, Jr.
Funeral Home on Thursday, July 28, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, July 29, 2011, from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held at Fresno Convention Center in the Ernest E. Valdez Hall on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., with public viewing from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
JESSE E. COOLEY, JR. FUNERAL SERVICE 1830 South Fruit Avenue Fresno, California
Published in the Fresno Bee on July 24, 2011
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