Born Jan. 30, 1924, in Solsberry, he was the son of William and Jessie Smith Cooksey.
He was a retired machinist at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during World War II. He was a member of the Monroe Masonic Lodge 22; Solsberry Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star 547; member of the National Rifle Association and the Ellettsville First Assembly of God.
Survivors include a son, Tracey Cooksey of Bloomington; a daughter, Deborah Bowers of Bloomington; a brother, Eugene Cooksey of Indianapolis; two sisters, Hazel Lewis of Indianapolis and Viola Crowe of Solsberry; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethelmae Cooksey, and his parents.
Services were 11 a.m. today, Monday, Dec. 15, at the Deremiah-Frye Mortuary Greene and Harrell Chapel in Bloomington with the Rev. Jim Severn officiating. Interment was in Valhalia Memory Gardens in Bloomington. Masonic memorial services were conducted at 6 p.m. Sunday and the Order of the Eastern Star services were conducted at 7 p.m., both at the funeral home.
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