Gretchen Cooley

Frances “Gretchen” Knapp Cooley, passed peacefully on December 24, 2023 at her home in Harlingen. She was born on July 3, 1945, in Harlingen TX. She was the “vivacious” youngest daughter of Parker and Mavis Knapp’s three daughters. Mavis, Rosemary, and Gretchen all graduated from Harlingen Highschool and remained close.

She married her high school sweetheart, Gary “Butch” Cooley, on July 11, 1964. They had five children: Lenae Cooley Gray (deceased), Gennie (Charla), Chris, Kirk, and Chad (BJ). She was beloved “Grammie” to Ashley Morrow (Duncan), Taylor Lenae, Cole “Bubba,” Bo Lenae, and Parks Gray.

Gretchen attended Baylor University, and Texas A&M University College Station, where she was named Vanity Fair Sweetheart in 1964.

Her core values were her relationship with Jesus Christ and her family. Butch and Gretchen made it a priority to attend every sporting event for all five of their children, even when there were multiple games in one day. She instilled on her children and grandchildren the importance of Christ, family, poise, and organization.

She was heavily involved in the business at Knapp Chevrolet, while being a loving wife and mother. She was the queen of shopping for good deals and enjoyed going to the Harlingen Country Club to play Bridge with her girlfriends. She always presented herself with grace and beauty, never leaving the house without her “bling.” She had a passion for her pets, Pandie, and specifically dogs named Tinker.

The Cooley family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A funeral service will take place on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Following the service Gretchen will be laid to rest at Mont Meta Memorial Park.