Donna Cooley

DONNA JEAN COOLEY

1953 to 2024

Our beloved soulmate, sister, aunt and friend to many Donna Cooley(nee Wagel),age 70 of Green Valley, Arizona passed away unexpectedly on July 11, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born on October 8. 1953 to Frank and Gloria Wagel in Dearborn, Michigan. Donna grew up in Allen Park, Michigan with three sisters and two brothers, and moved to Arizona in 1974 where she lived a rich, adventurous and varied life.

She owned and operated a trading post on the reservation in WhiteRiver, Arizona, after which she worked for the County in Showlow, Az, developing trails and parks. She then worked for Honda Casino as a lead bartender, then ultimately she became a real estate agent until retiring in 2005. Donna enjoyed traveling extensively throughout Mexico and the Caribbean Islands, then annually to San Carlos, Mex, with her long time partner Rudy, where she took up golf and joined ladies nine-hole groups in Green Valley and Pinetop Country Club in the Arizona white mountains where they had a summer home.

Donna loved her animals and was a great mom to five generations of Jack Russel terriers, whom she fondly referred to as ‘Jack Russel Terrorists’, but her greatest love was spending time with her many friends and her sisters, whom she spoke to almost every day. Donna was a kind, outgoing, loving soul who will forever be in our hearts.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and brother Patrick Wagel. Donna is survived by sisters KarenTrahey, Carol(Dave)Balge, Barbara Tomlinson, Debbie Kilyanek,Bev Semak, Nancy(Stanley)Mika and brothers Andy(Lisa)Wagel, Dave Balge and Aunt Fran Hunt, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of Michigan. She is also survived by her loving significant other Rudy Garcia of Green Valley.

Per Donna’s wishes, all celebrations of life will be private with no public services. The Family is being served by Avenidas Cremation and Burial, Tucson, Arizona.