Beatrice Elaine Cooley

Beatrice Elaine Datus Cooley was born March 30, 1926 to Virgil E. and Helen G. Copsey Datus at Westerville, Nebraska and passed away September 14, 2012 at Golden Living Center. She attended school in Westerville and later graduated. In high school she met the love of her life, Ivan Rex Cooley. On May 7, 1942 they were married. To this union three children were born. Gary Lee on September 9, 1943, Larry Dale on September 27, 1948 and Nancy Annette on December 26, 1954. The couple resided near the Westerville Community before relocating to Albany, Oregon. They returned to Custer County the following year. The couple moved to the Emil Volsky property near Westerville to farm then later purchased the Virgil Datus farm in 1967. In 1985 they moved to Broken Bow to manage William Penn Lodge. Eventually they returned to their farm in Westerville and Beatrice worked at the Medicine Chest. Beatrice had many passions in life. She loved to crochet and shared many of her afghans with friends and family. Ivan and Beatrice enjoyed traveling to the west coast visiting with extended family. They also enjoyed going to big band dances. She always had coffee and a treat ready for anyone who stopped to visit. “Bap” was a member of Does, She also played an active role in the Westerville Methodist Ladies Aide. Beatrice was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Virgil and two sons Larry Dale and Gary Lee and grand daughter, Stephanie. She is survived by her husband, Ivan, of 70 years; One daughter, Nancy, and son-in-law Joel Brown, grand daughter, Tiffany of Denver, Colorado. Daughter -in -law Doris Wright Cooley, grandson, Mark Cooley and great granddaughter Samantha of Sacramento, California. Beatrice has five siblings, Meredith Zutavern, Donna Kimball, Dixie Pappas, Audrey Miller, and Edwin (Ellen) Datus, as well as numerous neices and nephews, family and friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday September 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Visitation will be held Monday from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.