Frederick Paul Cooley
of Chelsea, age 86, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. He was born July 23, 1938, in Canton, Ohio, the son of Frederick and Edith Esther (Hookway) Cooley.
Frederick grew up in rural Stark County, Ohio. He lived near and worked on his grandparents’ farm until leaving for college in 1956. Frederick earned his A.B. degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, in1960, and then his Master of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio, in 1965. Frederick served as Chaplain for the Navy Reserves from 1968 - 1982. Frederick was a Methodist minister for 40 years. He served at the United Methodist churches in Mayfield Village, Ohio (1965-1968), Brookpark, Ohio (1968-1974), and Garfield Heights, Ohio (1974-1979). After moving to Michigan, he served as a minister at the United Methodist churches in Bay Port (1979-1983), Mt. Clemens (1983-1988), Hancock (1988-1994), Wayne (1994-2001), and after retiring, served for another 6 years at West Side United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor (2001-2007). He enjoyed wood carving, photography and framing, and going on walks with his dogs. Frederick also enjoyed traveling, his favorite places being Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Williamsburg, Virginia.