Rex Cooley age 81 of Chardon passed away Nov. 24, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family. Born Oct. 16, 1935 in Chardon to Harlan and Cecilia (nee: Avins) Cooley; he had been a lifelong Chardon area resident. Rex met his future wife at Concord Airfield where he kept his Taylor Craft airplane. He helped his father build a cabin in Sheenboro, Quebec in 1955 and bought his loved 1951 Harley-Davidson Panhead. Rex then served in the US Army as a radio operator, serving mostly in Germany. Upon returning home from active duty, Rex married Patricia Luhta in Painesville on July 22, 1961. He enjoyed boating, riding motorcycle, flying his airplane, restoring vintage tractors and playing the piano and Hammond organ. If it could be repaired, Rex would figure it out and fix it. He was a member of Village Lodge #274 in Burton, OH. Survivors include his wife of 55 years Patricia of Chardon; children Brandi (Roger) Davis of Chardon and Craig Cooley of Chardon; grandchildren Roger and Ryder Davis; Arriel, Alexis & Tarah Cooley; and great-grandson; sisters Barbara Luther of Chardon, Karen (Tim) Kloiber of Kansas City, MS, Jennifer (Ken) Artim of Mentor and Reneé (Larry) Weeks of Mentor. He was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial gathering will be from 12 to 2pm on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 at the Burr Funeral Home, 116 South ST. (On Rt. 44, 500’ south of Rt. 6/Chardon Square) Chardon, OH. A Masonic service will be held at 2pm on Saturday at the funeral home with burial to follow at Chardon Municipal Cemetery. Donations suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

 Arrangements by the Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Chardon.