Mildred L. Cooley

Mildred L. Gregory-Long-Cooley was born March 15, 1924 in Camden County, daughter of James Clardy and Opal Jane Morgan Gregory. She departed this life, Saturday, November 28, 2020 in her home with her daughter by her side, at the age of ninety-six years, eight months and thirteen days. She grew up in the Tonka Junction area or Dry Ridge area of South Highway 5. She was one of five brothers and sisters who worked hard on the family farm. She loved to tell stories of catching and hitching the mules to drive to Decaturville to the store. She was saved at an early age and was a Baptist by faith. Attending church and revivals were among her fond memories. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, Annie Gregory; her first husband and the father of her children, L. Jackson Long, Sr.; her second husband, Charles Herbert Cooley; her son, L. Jack Long, Jr.; her granddaughter, Jonna Kay Witherow; two brothers, Melvin Gregory and Marvin Gregory and her two sisters, Dorothy Hammer and Phyllis Plympton. She is survived by her daughters, Connie Kay Long and husband, Jon Witherow of Macks Creek, Missouri; her nephew, John Thomas Emry and wife Norma of Camdenton, Missouri; her great nephew, Wayne Sons of Knob Noster, Missouri; her great-niece, Beth Jones and husband Al of Linn Creek, Missouri; her great-nephew, RC Caviness and wife Deborah of Texas and many other relatives and friends. On August 7, 1943, she was united in marriage to L. Jackson Long. They shared nineteen years together until his death on March 15, 1962. To this union, they were blessed with two children, Jack Long and Connie Long. Together they built the Long Feed Store in 1948 which the building still stands today and is still in the family. Jackson was a truck driver hauling animals and grain and owned his own business Long and Son. In 1958, they built and opened the restaurant Connie’s Dinner House, which was a popular family run business until health problems led to the sale in 1973. On March 16, 1965, she married Charles Herbert Cooley with whom she shared twenty-six years until his death in 1991. He was a devoted husband and father to her two children. Mildred loved cooking and a meal would be the first thing offered when you came to visit. She loved to garden, can and be outside. She was a fantastic seamstress and could sew anything without a pattern. She loved to quilt and spent many hours making some beautiful ones that will always be cherished. Family was very important to her. Her son Jack loved his mother very much. When home from working on the oil rigs, he would enjoy playing tricks on her and teasing her with worms by chasing his mother around the house. She enjoyed acting as “groom” for daughter, Connie when showing Arabian Horses and made all her Arabian Costumes which Connie qualified to attend Nationals. Although she never rode them, she enjoyed caring for them cleaning stalls, feeding and brushing. The highlight of her life was granddaughter, Jonna Kay Witherow, who she loved very much. She drove her to school, attended games and supported Jonna at pageants and of course helped with her showing horses until her untimely death in 2015. Mildred was a special lady, tough and determined by nature and was a very devoted mother, grandmother, wife and friend to many. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her. The family would like to give a special thank you to Lake Regional Hospice for the excellent care she was given. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 5, 2020, at Dale Blair Memorial Cemetery, Camdenton, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Camdenton, Missouri. Memorial donations may be made to the family and left at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Camdenton, Missouri.