Funeral services for Kenneth Neal Cooley, 63, of
Slagle, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at Antioch Baptist Church in Slagle. Services will be officiated by Dr. Carl Glen Cooley, Bro. Morris Goins and Bro. Greg Blackwell. The burial will immediately follow at the Antioch Cemetery
located adjacent to the church.
There will be a visitation for family and friends from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at Labby Funeral Home in Leesville.
Kenneth was born August 10, 1953, in Leesville, and died on Monday,
Jan. 30, 2017, at Rapides Hospital in Alexandria at the age of 63 years, five months and 20 days with his family by his side.
Kenneth battled illnesses for many years, beginning with polio as a young child. In 2001, he began having kidney
problems, which resulted in kidney failure and ultimately a kidney transplant in 2004. In 2006, he began battling cancer caused by the anti-rejection medications needed for proper kidney function. Due to cancer, he eventually had to have an eye
removed. He had cancer surgery again in February of 2016 and seemed to battle it continually thereafter.
Kenneth graduated from Simpson High School in 1972. After graduating from high school, he worked for many years painting and
sandblasting at oil refineries in Houston. He graduated from McNeese State University in 1987 and taught elementary school in Pickering for three years. After teaching, he became an IT Specialist at Fort Polk, and then transferred to Germany. He
loved working in Germany and traveling around the German countryside. He remained there until becoming ill in 2001, and had to return to the states. Due to this illness, he retired in 2003.
He was an avid, lifelong Harley rider. His
desire was that other Harley riders would share his love for Christ. His love of motorcycles began as a young boy when his dad bought him and his two brothers a Sears 106 motorcycle, which they rode for many miles. Kenneth had ridden his Harley to
all but nine states in the U.S. with friends and family. He had hopes of finally making it to those nine states and continued planning until becoming so ill, and realizing that dream would never come true. At that point, his will to live began to
fade. He always said that when he could not throw his leg over his Harley, he wanted the Lord to call him home.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his father, Carl Cooley, and his brother, Dale Cooley.
Kenneth is survived by his
mother, Mildred Cooley, of Slagle, three brothers, Glen Cooley (wife Ann) of Slagle, David Cooley of Slagle, and Leroy Cooley (wife Dynette) of Anacoco; four sisters, Shirley Kenyon (husband Richard) of Grand Prairie, Texas, Marie Ross (husband
Jimmy) of Hornbeck, Patsy Seekins (husband Fred) of Pride, and Barbara Barbour (husband Rick) of Ovilla, Texas. Kenneth had two nephews, Jeffrey Cooley and Ryan Dalton; six nieces, Tammie Thibodeaux, Kimberly Ross, Cassie Obellerio, Tessa Mullins,
Elaina Cooley and Rebecca Cooley; one great nephew, Caden Cooley; and two great nieces, Madilyn and Katelyn Thibodeaux.
Kenneth’s one request was to have a “Harley” funeral service in honor of his love of riding, so if you would like to
wear a Harley T-shirt, please do so.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Cooley Family at www.labbymemorial.com.