Karen Eileen (Whitmore) Cooley

Karen Eileen (Whitmore) Cooley, affectionately known as “Neen,” age 72, of Swanton, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home the evening of October 24, 2022 after a long hard-fought battle with cancer.

Karen was born September 9^th, 1950 to Harold and Norma Whitmore. She grew up surrounded by a love for Art, Music, and Worship which she thoroughly enjoyed sharing with her children and grandchildren.

Karen graduated class of 1969 from Swanton High School after which she attended Art School in Chicago. She met the love of her life, Roger Cooley, in church and married him on February 14, 1987. She continued her education and went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art from the University of Toledo and graduated Magna cum Laude in December of 1999.

Karen enjoyed sharing her artistic talents and love for Jesus through her personal artworks and through musical productions at her church. Where she was always involved with the Christmas and Easter programs, and for a short while even formed her own band comprised mainly of her grandchildren.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Norma Whitmore, her sister, Sharon, and her daughter, Jennifer Moore.

She will be dearly missed by her loving husband of 35 years, Roger Cooley, her children, Hans (Cheryl) Damaske, Robert Cooley, Wendy (Tim) Nijakowski, Donavan (Jennifer) Cooley and Tim (Gretchen) Cooley; son-in-law, Gary Moore; her brother, Harold (Sandi) Whitmore, her sister, Kathy (Rick) Karr, her brother, Charles “Chip” (Joy) Whitmore; 14 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit Friday, October 28th from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 29^th at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, where visitation will be one hour prior. Pastor Justin McCall will officiate. Interment will follow at Lockport Cemetery in Stryker, Ohio.

Memorial contributions can be made in her name to Trinity United Methodist Church, 210 N. Main St., Swanton, OH 43558 or Promedica Hospice, 5855 Monroe St., Sylvania, OH 43560.