COOLEY, JR., Leland Russell (Rusty)

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ June 5, 2002, p. A16 Leland Russell "Rusty" Cooley Jr. of Ashland, Ore., died Saturday, May 11, 2002 at Ashland Community Hospital. He was 54. Mr. Cooley was born May 22, 1947, in Ashland to Leland and Marian Cooley. He was raised in Arizona and graduated from Wickenburg High School. He then graduated from Grand Canyon College in Phoenix and received his master's degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. On Dec. 22, 1967, in Phoenix, he married Linda Gangnes, who survives. They moved to Ashland in 1971, where he began a 30-year teaching and coaching career with Ashland School District. Mr. Cooley taught history and government, and is most remembered for his economics class. He spent 17 years as the offensive and defensive line coach for the Ashland High School football team. He also coached Little League and the girls' basketball and softball teams. He retired from teaching and coaching in June 2001. Mr. Cooley was awarded the Outstanding Young Men of America Award in 1976 and was voted the Oregon Economics Teacher of the Year in 1992. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include daughters Melissa Cooley of Ashland and Christina Cooley of Talent, Ore.; sons Russ of Scappoose, Ore., and Travis of Marysville, Wash.; parents Rusty and Marian Cooley of Phoenix, Ore.; sister Rhonda Michel of Los Osos, Calif.; and five grandchildren. Services have been held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ashland First Baptist Church, 2001 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland OR 97520, or to the Russ Cooley Scholarship Fund, Ashland High School, 201 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, OR 97520.