Frank Cooksley Jr., 89, died March 24, 2018.
Frank was born at home in the Broken Bow area of Weissert on Jan. 4, 1929, to Frank Cooksley Sr. and Sylvia Gibbens Cooksley. When he was 7, the family moved to North Platte, where he attended Jefferson Elementary and North Platte High School, graduating in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan during the occupation.
Frank attended many automotive schools and spent his working life in the automobile business in North Platte, where he was sales manager at Bowman Chrysler and Nielsens Chevrolet. He then moved to Broken Bow and became the owner of Cooksley Ford, Lincoln, Mercury. He sold his dealership to K.C. Gottschalk of Ranchland Ford in 1980. He retired, and his family moved to Vista, California, in 1984.
Frank enjoyed life and was a people person. He loved being with his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren described him as funny, loving and generous.
He was a member of many organizations during his working life and held offices in the Nebraska New Car Dealers Association and One Box Pheasant Hunt. He was a member of Saint Joseph’s Church while living in Broken Bow and Saint Francis Catholic Church in Vista, California, where he attended faithfully. Good health prevailed until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Even then, he was kind and content during his struggle that took his life.
Frank was preceded in death by is his parents, Frank Cooksley Sr. and Sylvia Cooksley Hesinger; brother, Marvin Cooksley; and daughter, Cornell Wright.
Frank is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara; sons, Paul of North Platte, Stephen of San Diego and Mitchell of Vista; sister, Betty Cooksley Rodriguez of Palm Desert, California; grandchildren, Dylan and Sydney Cooksley, Nathan Terhune of California, Tad Wright, Jennifer (Justin) Thomas, Greg (Angelena) Wright, Becky (Ron) Tridle and Jed Cooksley; and 10 great-grandchildren of Nebraska.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint Francis Catholic Church in Vista. Inurnment will be at a later date at San Luis Rey Mission Cemetery in Oceanside, California.