Joyce Coolley

NEWMAN—Joyce Cecile (Edgar) Coolley,--, of Brocton, passed away at 4 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 13, 2024, at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. She died peacefully with her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law at her bedside.

At her request, there are no services. Burial will be in the Fairfield Cemetery, Newman, Ill.

Mrs. Coolley was born on July 3, 1937, in Fresno, Calif., the daughter of Cecil E. and Minnie B. Edgar. 

She is survived by her nephews, Brian Edgar, New York, New York and Blake Edgar, Oakland, Calif.; sister-in-law Joan Edgar, Oakland, Calif.; great-nephew Aidan, Oakland, Calif.; two brothers-in-law, Paul Coolley (Pat), Covington, Ind. and Will Coolley, Brocton.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Donald L. Edgar.

Mrs. Coolley graduated from Fresno High School and Fresno State University. After graduating from college, she taught second grade in Oakland, Calif. where she met her future husband, Newton Coolley, while he was in the Navy, stationed in San Francisco. They were married on Nov. 13, 1965.

After her marriage, she moved to Brocton, Ill. She taught the second grade at Shiloh School until her retirement in 1994. Mrs. Coolley spent her entire career teaching the second grade, though her students counted her first in their hearts because of her true, warm, caring personality.

After her retirement, she was active in the Edgar County Retired Teachers Association, the Brocton American Legion Auxiliary, the Brocton Red Barn Market and the Otho Henn Senior Citizen Center. She was a member of the Grandview United Methodist Church.

Donations can be made to Fairfield Church, in care of Will Coolley, P.O. Box 203, Brocton, IL 61917.

Online condolensces at www.joinesfuneralhome.com.