Mrs. Mary Jo Cooley

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Jo Cariker Cooley will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mark Manning and Rev. Wayne Cooley officiating. Burial will follow in the Long Branch Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1:00-2:00 p.m. Saturday prior to the chapel service. Mrs. Mary Jo Cariker Cooley was born on June 2, 1932, in Long Branch, Texas. She passed this life on January 1, 2023, in Carthage, Texas. Mary was one of nine children born to the marriage of James Otis and Sally Rebecca Morris Cariker. She was raised and schooled in Long Branch through the fifth grade, attended Carthage schools and graduated with the Bulldog class of 1950. Mary Jo married her love, Gene Alden Cooley September 9, 1950. They celebrated 66 years of marriage and three children. She was a loving homemaker, cooking for family and friends. Mary Jo loved the outdoors, working with her flowers and gardening. She is also preceded in death by her parents, and two daughters, Debbie Darlene Lavergne and Sandra Gomez; five sisters; and three brothers. Mrs. Cooley is survived by her devoted son, Jeff Cooley and wife Sandra of Groves; grandchildren, Troy Cooley and wife Ashley of San Antonio, Sean Cooley and Kristen of Eureka, CA, Rhonda LeLeux and husband Corey of Spring, Stephanie Pipes of Nederland, Derek McDaniel of Nederland, Steven Gomez of Groves, Casey Warner of Groves, Crystal Jordan and husband Justin of Port Neches; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Joy Cariker of Carthage and Myrle Cariker Gay of Arlington; son-in-law, Jerry Lavergne of Carthage; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Dean Giles, Gene Giles, Troy Cooley, Sean Cooley, Mark Cariker, Buddy Gossett and Derek McDaniel. Special thanks to Brenda Hall, Elizabeth Waters, Alice Williams and the staff of UT Health Carthage. In lieu of flowers contributions may be given to Footprints in the Sand Foundation, 808 Ray Street, Carthage, Texas 75633. A guestbook can be signed at www.hawthornfuneralhome.com

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Mrs. Mary Jo Cooley

June 2, 1932 - January 1, 2023