Joan Clarice Wright, age 81, died August 27, 2007 in Palo Alto, California. She was an Oregon native and a long-time resident of San Mateo County, California.

Joan is survived by her four sons (and their wives) -- Lynn Cooley (Roberta), Ken Cooley (Colette), Bruce Cooley (Merrily Ellestad), and Shawn Cooley (Colleen). She also leaves behind nine grandchildren.

Joan was born October 4, 1925 in Walker, Oregon. She attended high school in Phoenix, Oregon, followed by Glad Tidings Bible Institute in San Francisco, and Placer College in Auburn, California, before settling in the Bay Area. Joan was married for 35 years to Rodney Cooley, and worked for many years as a homemaker. Later she worked as a certified medical assistant, then as a medical transcriptionist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, retiring in the 1990s. She lived most recently with Shawn and Colleen Cooley in Redwood City, after residing over 40 years in Menlo Park.

Joan is fondly remembered by friends and relatives as having been happiest when surrounded by a houseful of people. She found great purpose in caring for children and grandchildren, and she expressed her greatest joy in the presence of little ones. She also cherished music and passed on that passion to her children. She and her 4 boys sang in the choirs at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for many years. More recently, she attended Peninsula Covenant Church in Redwood City as long as she was able.

Joan requested cremation, with no formal funeral service. Her ashes will be buried at Shields Cemetery in Cottage Grove, Oregon, while her oldest son plays MacIntosh's Lament on the bagpipes.