Gordon CooleyFebruary 10, 1925 - March 5 2017Vancouver, Washington - Gordon died peacefully in his home In Vancouver, Washington on Sunday March 5th. Gordon had suffered from complications of cardiac disease but he enjoyed the daily company of family and friends during the last months' of his life. His four children survive Gordon: Craig (June) West Linn, Eric (Ruth) Tigard, Pam Rostron (Doug) Portland, and Kevin (Lisa Morrison) of Vancouver. Gordon also leaves 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.Gordon was born on February 10, 1925 in Talbot, Oregon the second of four boys for Lucille and Warren Cooley. He spent his early childhood on a farm outside of Waitsburg, Washington and often teased his grandchildren that he actually DID ride a horse to school. The family moved back to Oregon in 1939 and owned a dairy farm in Albany, Oregon. It was during high school that Gordon "met" Darline Reiley, the love of his life, from Crabtree, Oregon—on the softball diamond as he was trying to tag second base.He enlisted in the Navy and passed a very difficult V12 Program test that gave him a choice of going to dental school or becoming a fighter pilot. His mother encouraged him to become a dentist because he "was good with his hands." The Navy sent him to the University of Miami in Ohio, and then to dental school at the University of Nebraska through their V-12 program. He graduated in 1949. Gordon and Darline were married in Crabtree, Oregon in 1946 and Darline joined him in Lincoln, Nebraska. The family moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Washington DC and San Diego while Gordon provided dental care at Naval bases; upon discharge, Gordon and Darline moved to Salem, Oregon where Gordon started his own private dental practice; Gordon loved to make his own bridges and fillings and had a lab inside the family home. Gordon and Darline raised their family in Salem and were active members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Gordon was a founding member of the Salem Tennis & Swim Club and enjoyed watching his children compete in basketball, tennis and track.After retiring from more than 50 years of private practice, Gordon and Darline moved to Vancouver, Washington to be closer to their adult children. They volunteered with NW Medical Teams and served patients on trips to Mexico and the South Pacific. Gordon also worked monthly on a NW Medical Team van that provided dental services in NE Portland. Darline died in 2004 after 58 years of a loving marriage—and Gordon cared for her in the final years of a debilitating illness.Gordon was an extraordinary husband, father and grandfather. He was creative and his mom was right that he was "very good with his hands;" this served him well in his professional career, and with projects of jewelry making, sculpture and household projects—always creatively homemade! Gordon had a strong faith in God and in the importance of family. His mantra to his grandchildren as they set out for college and careers was: "Remember who you are—a Cooley."The family wishes to thank the caregivers at NW Healthcare and Hospice SW—both of whom helped Gordon achieve his wish to remain in his home and live with dignity.There will be a memorial service on Saturday March 25th at 1pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem, OR. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Parkinson's Resources of Oregon, 3975 Mercantile Dr., Suite 154, Lake Oswego, OR. 97035. www.parkinsonsresources.org or St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1444 Liberty St. SE, Salem, OR 97302. www.stpaulsoregon.org