Eleanor Cooley

Eleanor N. Cooley, 92, of Canon City, Colo., formerly of Mountain Home, died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at the Legacy Center in Canon City.

Graveside services were held July 18 at Cloverdale Cemetery in Boise. The Rev. Luther Pitz of the All Saints Episcopal Church officiated. Arrangements were under the direction of Summers Funeral Home, Boise Chapel.

Eleanor was born Nov. 30, 1915, in Melba, Idaho, the daughter of Lewis Elmer and Helen Alice Newcomb.

She attended Albertson College of Idaho in 1934-1935 and the University of Colorado in 1935-1937 where she majored in journalism.

She married Robert Miller Cooley on July 1, 1937, at Melba.

She and Robert lived in Akron and Limon, Colo., while Robert worked at newspapers owned by members of the Cooley family.

In 1946 Eleanor and Robert purchased the newspaper in Mountain Home. They owned and operated the newspaper from 1946-1953.

They then moved to the Phoenix, Ariz. area, where Robert began a career teaching journalism. They lived there from 1953-1963. They moved to Reedley, Calif., and lived there from 1963-1964. In 1964 they moved to Flagstaff, Ariz.; they lived there until 1976. Robert retired from teaching in 1976, and they moved to Boise.

Robert died in 1992, and Eleanor continued to live in Boise until 2004 when she moved to Canon City to be close to her son. She moved to the Legacy Center in 2005 where she resided until her death.

Eleanor was a member of Chi Omega, a social sorority, and Iras Temple No. 40, Daughters of the Nile.

Survivors include: her son and daughter-in-law, Richard L. and Sharon A. Cooley of Canon City; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her brother Lewis E. Newcomb, Jr., and her husband, Robert.