Donna Lee (Mountain) Cooley peacefully passed away Sunday January 31st 2016 at the age of 81. She contracted Alzheimer�s disease late in her life so memory care facilities in the Longmont, Colorado area were Donna�s home for the past three years. She is being remembered as kind and loving with a unique sense of humor.
Donna was born 16 Feb 1934 at home in Hyde, Washington County, Colorado. She was the eleventh of eleven children born to Wray and Dora Mountain.
Donna attended rural schools during her grade school years. In the years 1946 through 1948 she attended the District 16 school in Platner, Colorado, upper grades 5-8 taught by Margaret Sears Cooley of Akron.
As a young person attending Akron High School, Donna was a very good student and was chosen for Girl's State. She was a baton twirler and gave lessons to girls in the Akron community. During and after high school Donna worked as a telephone switchboard operator.
After her graduation from Akron High in Throughout Donna�s life, she worked as a medical records technician at the Akron hospital, EMT for Washington county, homemaker, and helped her husband run his TV business.
After her husband's death in 1979 she worked twenty some years in varying capacities for the State of Colorado Legislature in the Capitol in Denver including State Services Secretary, Chief Legislative Secretaty, and Bill Room Clerk. This job ended due to a tragic automobile accident in 2007 when she was 73 years old.
Donna had a deep love for the Lord; she was very active in her church, Akron Seventh Day Adventist. Donna was a long distance runner, running in the annual "Boulder Bolder" foot race held in Boulder Colo every year. Her other interests included serving on the Akron school board, the Akron Museum Association, and she was deeply involved in the Washington County Republican Party, holding several offices.
She was a member of the local Rock Hound Club* and loved to go arrowhead hunting. She took her children, family, and friends along. While out hunting arrowheads, she would tell the children if a snake bites you, do not bite them back.
She loved to garden and grow medicinal herbs including organic dandelions (no weed killer or pesticides used in her yard) which she ate or put them in a shake. If you were around her for any length of time, you would be taught how to cook lentils and rice in a thermos.
Donna had an extensive button collection (46 gallon jars holding thousands of buttons). Family and friends visiting Donna helped sort the buttons for hours. The collection is now on display at the Old Threshers** in Yuma.
Her parents, Wray and Dora Mountain, husband Herb Cooley and son Dale Cooley, her ten siblings: brothers - Bert, Walter, Edward, sisters - Marian Davis, Waunita Brown, Helen Pont, Phoebe Black, Elva Dexter, Dorothy Gisi, and Margie Shannon preceded Donna in death.
Her children Dorcas "Dee" Webb of Fort Collins, Donita Pilkington and husband Gregory of Firestone, and Douglas of Lafayette, survive Donna. Grandchildren David Sundling of Akron, Eric Sundling of Denver, Laurissa Pilkington of Houston TX, Marcia Brake of Ft. Collins, Rita Schmid of Ft. Collins, Lauren Konet of Wadsworth OH and Wray Cooley of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, several great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services are being held on Wednesday February 3rd in Akron Colorado at the Foursquare Church, 901 East First Street at 2:00 P.M. with a reception following at the Fellowship Hall at the church. Interment will be at the Akron Cemetery. Memorials go to the Alzheimer�s Foundation.
** Old Threshers Yuma, Colorado
The Old Threshers story is unequaled in its growth in 29 years of existance. From the thoughts and wishes of an interested farmer, the annual Old Threshers day has evolved from a small neighborly demonstration to a spectacular three day event bringing over 5,000 people annually from many states and foreign countries to the show. With over 130 exhibitors from many states, it is one of the most unique events in the midwest United States with many one of a kind antique threshing units and steam engines in actual operation, over 15 draft horse teams working horsepower units providing a rare opportunity to show the early birth and evolution of our agricultural technology. Many displays and demonstrations have been added to the show each year to attract and entertain all ages.
The 1990's proved to be some of the most progressive years for this group. They received federal status as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization and purchased over 7 acres of land as a site for the show. Along with the visibility and permanence of the show and the stability of the group that this commitment provides, it has also provided the opportunity to expand the show with historic buildings, displays, attractions and events. Twelve buildings have been moved in and are preserved, bringing back Main Street of the past with sights and sounds of yesterday. A kitchen/concession building with modern restrooms was built through donations, fund-raisers and volunteer labor in 1997. Thousands of hours of volunteer work have been spent restoring as well as equipping these buildings with actual working demonstrations and memorabilia. The show has grown by thousands in attendance each year. The show was proud to host the J.I.Case exposition in 1999. In 2000 we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Please join us for our 30th Annual Show. - http://www.yumaoldthreshers.org/about.php
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