Reginald G. Cooley

BARRE TOWN – Reginald Gary “Spade” Cooley, 80, of Spruce Mountain View Drive, a longtime Central Vermont Area businessman, died Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin, where he had recently been admitted.
Born on December 23, 1934 in Montpelier, he was the son of William and Marian (Unwin) Cooley. He attended Elementary school in East Montpelier Center and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1953, where he was the star member of the basketball team, winning the Class A State Championship and breaking all of the school scoring records.
On December 12, 1959, he married Rosalyn M. “Rose” Baldwin at the Bethany Church in Montpelier. Since their marriage they made their home in Barre City, Orange and since 1985, in Barre Town.
Following his High School graduation, he and his brothers, Ronald and Ray, formed the Cooley Construction Company in Barre, which later became the Cooley Asphalt Paving Company. He sold the business and after several years of retirement, he and his son Randy formed the Cooley and Son Paving Company.
“Spade”, along with his brothers and Ken Squire, built the Thunder Road Race Track and Catamount Stadium in Milton for stock car racing, which became well known, on the racing circuit.
Being active in Vermont State government, he was a former member of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Hunting, woodworking, and his love of golfing were his special interests and he will be remembered for scoring a double eagle at the Barre Country Club. He also enjoyed being a resident of Florida during the winters.
His memberships included the Kiwanis Club, of which he was a past president, the Canadian Club, the Mutuo Inc. and the Elks Lodge 1535, all of Barre. Being a Mason, he belonged to the Aurora Masonic Lodge 22 and the Mt. Sinai Shrine Temple 3, both of Montpelier.
Survivors include his wife, Rose; his son, Randy Cooley of Barre Town; his daughter, Jill Conti and her husband, Vince of Plattsburgh, NY; four grandchildren, Hayden, Spencer, Megan and Amanda; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Ray Cooley and his wife, Cheryl of South Burlington; and nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother Ronald Cooley.
At the family’s request, there will be a graveside service next Spring for his family only at the Cutler Cemetery in East Montpelier.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 or to the Central Vermont Council on the Aging, 59 North Main Street, Barre, VT 05641.
Spades’ family want to thank the Central Vermont Home Health Nursing and Hospice volunteer staff for their love, concern and superb care that they gave to him, especially Ginger Hopkins, Stacey Lamberti, Stephanie Davis, Teri Benway and Hayden Cooley.