Memorial services for Marion Van Cooley were Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service with burial in Memorial Gardens in Laurel. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Cooley, 80, of Brookhaven, formerly of Laurel and Lucedale, died on Thursday, June 11, 2015, with his loving wife and family by his side at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson. He was born Oct. 7, 1934, in Laurel to Amza and Martin Van Buren Cooley. 

Marion Van attended Glade High School before moving on to Jones County Junior College. He then transferred to Mississippi State College graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the School of Forestry in 1958.

For 50 years, Marion Van held membership in the Society of American Foresters and the Mississippi Forestry Association. He was also a member of the Tree Farmers Association, owning property recognized as a “certified family forest.” M.V. loved God’s land and was called to become a forester. He was a registered forester and land surveyor in Mississippi. His wife of 60 years, Janie, believes that God made him with a “heart made from a pine tree with a little bit of hardwood thrown in.” He instilled the love of the land in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was a lifetime deacon at First Baptist Church, Brookhaven, where he served as chairman and taught Sunday school for many years. He was a member of George County Jaycees and an Exchange Club member in Brookhaven. M.V. was honored to be chosen for both the 1962 Distinguished Service Award by the George County Jaycees and the Mississippi State University College of Forest Resources’ 2011 Alumni Fellow.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, JoAnn Cooley Warren; and grandson, Adam Scott Bateman.

Survivors are his wife, Janie Clark Cooley; three children, son, Martin Van Cooley and wife, Amy; daughters, Terry Cooley Doremus and husband, Jeff and Macie Cooley Bateman and husband, Kyle; nine grandchildren, Katie Doremus Bowman and husband, Steve, Kelly Doremus Pippin and husband, Zach, Holly Beth Bateman, Mari Megan Bateman Case and husband, Landon, Brittany Bateman Webb and husband, Justin, Scotty Bateman, Rebecca Elizabeth Huff, Christopher Van Cooley  and Andrew Jeremy Cooley; four great-grandchildren, Maeleigh Elizabeth Bowman, Alli Scott Case, Adam Clark Case and Macie Evelyn “Evie” Webb; special friend, Carrie Crossley; and a host of family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to First Baptist Church Brookhaven, MS building fund.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.