Justin Cooley

A celebration of life service for Justin Cooley, 52, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Genesis Church, West Plains, followed by burial at South Fork Cemetery, South Fork, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Justin passed away at the age of 52 years on April 2, 2024. 

He was born on October 17, 1971 in Trenton, MO to Garry and Judy (Taber) Cooley. 

Justin was united in marriage on September 26, 2020 to Ashley Tyree Cooley. 

Justin was a graduate of Mountain View-Liberty High School, class of 1989. He went on to Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife conservation management in 1995. After a career in sales management, Justin found his true calling as a certified wealth advisor with LPL Financial and Simmons Investment Services, serving the surrounding area communities of southwest Missouri. He enjoyed working alongside his coworkers and building relationships with his clients. He embraced the challenge of this new career path.

Justin was a sports enthusiast and a loyal fan to the Dallas Cowboys, Mizzou Tigers, and St. Louis Cardinals. He loved hosting and entertaining friends and family around the smoker, BBQ grill, and campfire. Justin was a passionate outdoorsman who loved fishing the Jacks Fork and the Eleven Point Rivers, as well as the Norfork Lake, and deer hunting in Arroll, MO with his friends and family. He enjoyed traveling and sightseeing the world with the love of his life, Ashley, and his friends and family. Justin was baptized alongside his wife on March 16, 2021 in the Jacks Fork River by Brian Ingalls. 

Justin was a loyal member of the Liberty Eagles Football First Team All-American Chain Gang, West Plains Sunrise Rotary Club, Greater Area West Plains, Mountain View, and Willow Springs Chambers of Commerce, and a member of Genesis Church-West Plains. 

Justin is survived by his wife Ashley Cooley of the home, children Laken Copeland (Kyle), Landen Cooley, and Kennedy Cooley. He is also survived by his father Garry Cooley (Joyce), brother Eric Cooley (Lisa), and sister Julie Kelly (Rowdy), grandchildren Brooks, Riley, and Eden Copeland, in-laws Lynn and Cindy Tyree, brother-in-law Luke Tyree, sister-in-law Kate Tyree, and grandparents-in-law Bob Ellison and Darrell and Dorothy Tyree, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.   Justin is also survived by a village of amazing friends including David and Angie Ledgerwood, Scott and Annie Roy, Steve and Jamie Vines, Dan and Joy Horgan, Michael and Shannon Triplett, Brock and Bridget Kenega, Kenny Porter, Kristi Bailey Williams, Kevin and LaKeesha Irving and many more. 

Justin is preceded in death by his mother Judy Cooley, his paternal and maternal grandparents, his uncles Jack and Larry, and aunt Sally Cooley, close friend Jeff Bailey and several high school classmates. 

Justin will forever be remembered by his contagious smile, witty sense of humor, and his willingness to help others in need. Justin fought a courageous battle with colon cancer, never giving up and always persevering despite the obstacles he faced. The impact of his story may never be known; however, it became his mission to spread colorectal cancer awareness and advocate for early detection. 

Justin’s loved ones would like to specifically thank his team at Siteman Cancer Center-Barnes Jewish Chrisitian for their unwavering support and care throughout his journey along with the prayers and support of our community and loved ones. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to West Plains Sunrise Rotary Backpack program, Simmons First Foundation or South Fork Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.