Mae Cooley

Mae Bertha Cooley, 66, of Malden, Mo., died Wednesday, May 31, 2006, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Born May 6, 1940, at Gobler, Mo., a daughter of Velma Austin of Cape Girardeau, Mo. and the late Ben Austin, she was a member of Zion Grove Baptist Church at Malden, where she served as usher board president, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, serving as president of the local Electra Chapter and as Grand Matron. She was employed at Arvin Automotive until her retirement in early 2005.

Survivors include her mother, Velman Austin; three children, Patricia Walton, Marilyn Murry and William Earl "Billy" Cooley all of Malden; four brothers, Jimmy Austin and Thomas O'Neal Austin of Kennett, Lawrence Austin of Kansas City, Michael Austin of Woodbridge, Va.; four sisters, Emma Hudson of Kennett, Joyce Austin of Malden, Gaylon Brevard and Gloria Embery of Cape Girardeau; six grandchildren, Lagale, Marcus, Tyron, Demetrius, Chisity and Adontist.

She was preceded in death by five siblings.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. today, Sunday, June 4, at Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel at Kennett, with the Rev. Johnny R. Williams officiating.

Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery at Kennett.

Pallbearers are Fitzgerald Thompson, Franklin Thompson, Broderick Brevard, James Austin, Ricky Thompson and Kenneth Cain.

Honorary pallbearers are Jimmy Green, Earl Green, Leroy McBridge, Marcus McBride and Tyrone McGhee.