Ralph Vernon Cooley

Ralph Vernon Cooley "Uncle Vern" passed away on July 30, 2023 in Sandy, Utah, at the age of 86. He was born on July 1, 1937 in Caliente, Nevada to Ernest and Catherine Lenore Coyle Cooley. Ralph attended and graduated from Garden Grove High School in California, in 1956 and served an LDS mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Paris France from 1959 –1962.

He married Barbara Jean Parris on December 24, 1962 in Gaffney, South Carolina. Later Solemnized in the Logan Utah LDS Temple on January 7, 1963. They lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the time of marriage and later moved to Sandy, Utah in August of 1971. He and mom moved to Crescent Senior Living, on January 4, 2023, where dad would live out the rest of his mortal life.

Ralph Joined the Utah Army National Guard on March 7, 1962 and attended the University of Utah for a short time in 1964. He then joined the US Air Force Reserves on March 7, 1965 and the Utah Air National Guard on October 6, 1973 where he worked in the Comm Flt as an Electronics Technician. He officially retired from the Military (US Air Force/Ut ANG) on July 1, 1997 with a total of 26 years, 6 months, 21 days.
He started his lifelong career with the Federal Government at Hill AFB as a civilian in 1965 and later became a Quality Assurance Specialist for DCMA (Defense Contract Management Agency) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ralph retired from the Federal Government after a distinguished 30-year career on November 15, 1995.

Ralph was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he held numerous callings over his lifetime. Served as a Scoutmaster, the Elders Quorum Presidency, High Priest Group Leader, Bishopric, and Stake High Council.

Dad was an avid golfer and played in a golf league for years. He loved building pinewood derby cars for his sons and built some very fast cars. He loved tinkering with and building computers. Dad coached little league baseball, basketball, and soccer. He was awarded the Most Spirited Hawk Award from Alta High School in 1991 and never missed an Alta High Basketball game or Football game!

Dad was a talker and could walk up to a complete stranger and carry on communication, to where everyone thought they were the best of friends. My dad also worked as a car mechanic for the old Union 76 Gas Station in Sandy, Utah. Dad was an avid lover of the Sandy Utah Chick-fil-A restaurant and was later awarded the best patron award from Chick-fil-A. He was on a first name basis with the entire staff at the Sandy, Utah Chick-fil-A. Dad was a very hard worker and was able to provide a very comfortable living for his family. He was an avid BYU fan for over 40 years and a season ticket holder.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean Parris Cooley, sons Brian (Kathy), Brent (Debbi), Bruce (Leigh) Cooley, grandchildren Jonathan Cooley, Alix Cooley, Austin (Whitney) Cooley, Heather (EJ) Cooley, Brayden (Sarah) Cooley, Maegan (Brandon) Cooley, Austin (Dazia)Murfitt, Dillan (Aerica)Murfitt, and Bailee (Chance) Murfitt, great grandchildren Oaklynn, Kynslee, Ledger, Roman, Kaylie, Berklee, Tatum, Crew, Aaliyah, and Echo, siblings Janet Patterson (sister In-law), Alan Parris (brother-in-law), Diane Cole (sister-in-law), and his best friends, Roger, and Deanna Hawkins. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Cooley, Catherine Lenore Coyle Cooley, Glen Ford Parris, Ruby Rae Hollyfield Parris, siblings, Cam Cooley, Jean Wilcock, Keith Cooley, Donna Mathews, Betty Joy Kilpatrick, Robert Cooley, Naomi Wilcock, Leola Rae Cooley, Donald Glen Parris, and Phillip Patterson.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Larkspur Ward, 949 E. 10600 S., Sandy, Utah 84094.
Viewings will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, at the Larkspur Ward, 949 E. 10600 S., Sandy, Utah 84094, and Saturday morning from 10:00 -10:45 am prior to the services at the church. Interment will follow at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary with full military honors from the Honor Guard at Hill AFB, UT.

Funeral services under the direction of Larkin Sunset Gardens. If you would like to watch the recorded services, please click on the blue "Watch Services" button above.

Our family would like to express our love, gratitude, and thankfulness to the entire staff of the Crescent Senior Living Facility. Thanks to Warren, Carolee, Eric and Makell. We would like to especially thank two of the CNAs on staff at the Crescent Senior Living Facility, Pele, and her son Alo. These two individuals developed a deep love, compassion and a caring attitude for our parents from the time that they moved into the facility. Pele and Alo loved and cared for our parents non-stop, no matter the time of day, and will continue to care for and watch over our mother. We would also like to thank Canyons Home Health and Hospice, and Mobile Medical, for their help with taking care of our mother and father.