James Edward Cooley

October 18, 1930-December 12, 2017

James Edward Cooley, born October 18, 1930, Berkeley, California to Helen and George Cooley, died December 12, 2017, Concord California. Survived by his husband Stephen Murphy of Concord, CA.

A memorial service will be held Sunday January 14 at 10AM at the Hillside Clubhouse at Rossmoor. The address is 3400 Lower Golden Rain Road Rossmoor, CA 94595

Jim Cooley grew up in the San Francisco East Bay. He attended high school at the Midland School in Los Olivos, California.

Following in his father’s footsteps he graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and was a member of Sigma Phi fraternity, many of whom remained friends for the rest of their lives. In fact, the friendships between Cooley and his Sigma Phi brothers have continued through the generations, as the Hudson and Seabury “children” can attest. He was a beloved member of their families.

Jim Cooley’s military service was in Korea where he was an officer of the Military Police. The early years of his work career were spent working for several international fruit and sugar companies, first headquartered in Hawaii, and then later primarily in the Middle East where he helped develop plantations of sugar beets among other things. He always spoke of those days fondly and made many lifelong friends, and developed a great appreciation for Lebanese and Persian food.

Upon his return to the United States Cooley worked on the Nixon campaigns and later knocked on doors for independent John Anderson. He worked at the the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and then went on to be a letter carrier in downtown San Francisco for the US Postal Service until his retirement.

He was active in the Episcopal Diocese, studying to be a deacon. However, as he was never ordained, with a laugh he described himself as the Episcopal Church’s oldest acolyte. He was a member of the Christ Church in Sausalito and then the congregation of St. Lukes in Rossmoor.

Cooley had a long, loving, marriage like relationship with Donald C. Biggs, living in Sausalito while they both worked in San Francisco, later moving to Rossmoor when Cooley inherited the condominium where his parents had lived out their final days. They enjoyed traveling and Cooley became very close with the Biggs Family, as he and Donald took several of the grandchildren on trips to Europe. When Donald’s mother Edith Biggs moved to Rossmoor, she also became quite close with Cooley and the three of them took numerous cruises together. They also enjoyed spending time in the Biggs weekend house in Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County.

After Donald’s death in 2000, Cooley found love again with Stephen Murphy, eventually marrying and moving into Stephen’s home in Concord. Stephen and Cooley were very active in and their marriage was blessed by the St. Luke’s congregation of the Episcopal Church in Rossmoor. They volunteered in the VA hospital in San Francisco, and continued traveling as long as they were able. They had a close and loving relationship and were excellent caregivers for each other.

Stephen and Cooley continued the relationship with Donald’s children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom miss “Uncle” Cooley, his sense of humor, his laughter and all of the support and love he gave to all of them.