Vera Belle Cooley

Vera B. Cooley, age 96, of Ithaca, died Friday, May 3, 2013, at Pine River Health Care Center in St. Louis.

Vera was born June 24, 1916, at Shady Shores Park at George Lake, Lupton, Michigan, the daughter of Paul W. and Janetta M. (Reed) Conway.  She married Benjamin F. Cooley on January 9, 1946.

The family moved to Ithaca from Shady Shores Park the summer of 1951.  Vera worked at Fortney’s Grill and Restaurant, Wetzel’s vegetable farm, Haffner’s and Gay’s Dime Stores, before going to Michigan State University where she became the first custodial woman building foreman.  She retired after 25 years of service.

Vera’s hobbies included crocheting and writing poetry. She loved gospel music and always had a story or some song that would make us laugh.  She liked watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Smarter than a Fifth Grader.

Vera was a member of the Ithaca Church of God.  She loved her family, friends, and church family very much.

Vera is survived by her daughters, Joyce Marie May Stambersky and Diane Janette May Tester; her sons, Bill Dean (Connie) May and Edward Earl (Lorraine) Cooley; her brother, Orison Conway of St. Louis; and her son in Law, John D. Carvalho;  13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husbands, Benjamin F. Cooley and William C. May; her daughter, Ina Jean May Carvalho; her parents, Paul and Janetta Conway; her sister, Pauline Nelson; her son-in-law, Donald Stambersky; her granddaughter, Katrina May; and her step son, Donald May.

Funeral services will be 11 A.M. Monday, May 6, at the Ithaca Church of God, with Pastor James Conn officiating.  Interment will be in Ithaca Cemetery.  Visitation will be sunday, May 5, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.  Memorial contributions maybe made to the Ithaca Church of God.