COOLEY, CYRUS L. AND WINIFRED A. (MICHEEL)

by Cy and Winnie Cooley

Entry F81 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Cy and Winnie Cooley August 27, 1987

Cyrus L. Cooley and Winifred A. Micheel
were married on June 3, 1956, at the Congre-
gational Church at Thedford, Nebr. The first
two years of our marriage were spent on the
Triple L Ranch northwest of Brownlee,
Nebr., working as ranch hand and cook, for
Jack and Doris Hanna. Within about a year
Jack became ill and passed away at the age
of 36 from a perforated ulcer. Jack's Dad,
Seth and later his brother-in-law, Darwin
(Red) Mercure were in charge of the ranch.
In the early summer of 1958 we purchased a
farm 25 miles northwest of Springfield, Mo.
We were blessed with our first child, Freder-
ick Lee, born 1959 at Burge Hospital
in Springfield. The years there were fun
years, but filled with a lot of hard work, as the
place was grown up to sprouts and quite run
down. Our neighbors were wonderful but we
missed being near our families. In May 1965
we moved to Mullen, Nebr. and started our
own well drilling and repair business. Rented
the Hugh Boyer home in east Mullen. On
1966 Douglas Duane was born at the North
Platte Memorial Hospital. On Oct. 9, 1970 we
purchased the Bertha Collins place west of
Mullen and have resided there since.

As the boys grew up their main interest was
to be able to help their Dad in our business.
The feelings were mutual and have been most
memorable times.

In the summer of 1981 we celebrated our
25th wedding anniversary at the United
Methodist Church.

In 1983 we purchased a Ditch Witch
trencher and backhoe.

Both boys attended Mullen Public Schools
all 13 years. They were active in the wrestling
program. Fredrich or "Fritz" as everyone
calls him is married and works for Fred
Kraye. He and Carla have a son, Travis Lee,
born 1985. He is such a special little
guy and our pride and joy. Doug is single and
works at Mullen Co-op - delivers propane
and works at the Filling Station.

We are active members of the United
Methodist Church and several other commu-
nity organizations.

Winifred has her own upholstery shop and
also enjoys sewing, crafts, gardening and yard
work. We also enjoy square dancing and
camping.