12/16/1998
A Mass of Christian Burial for Rita M. (Cooney) Isley, 68, of Knoxville, who died December 16, of a lung ailment, at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital, was held December 19, 1998, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Knoxville.
Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. The Rev. Thomas Parlette officiated at the services.
Music was provided by Geoffrey Shultz, pianist, and Katie Davis, soloist and guitarist.
Pallbearers were Matthew Edwards, Jarad Ripperger, Ronnie Cooney, Curtis Edwards,
Alex Armstrong, and Adam Lombardi. Honorary bearers were Spencer Isley, Carter Isley, Ian Armstrong, and Seth Armstrong.
Rita was born April 3, 1930, in Marion County, the daughter of William and Mary Carroll Cooney. She was raised in the Knoxville area and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1948.
She was united in marriage to Leo Isley on April 15, 1950. She worked for the Knoxville Community School District for 24 years before her retirement. She was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society, and the Marion County Genealogical Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband; four daughters, Dianna Edwards, and Barbara Stull, both of Knoxville, Susan Leeper of Lufkin, Texas, and Elizabeth Armstrong of Iowa City; a son, David of Knoxville; three brothers, Cleo Cooney of Knoxville, Robert Cooney of Indianola, and Richard Cooney of Palo Alto, Calif.; a twin sister, Ruth Schlotterback of Knoxville; 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa, and St. Anthony's Youth Group.
Arrangements were made by Bybee and Davis Funeral Home in Knoxville
Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. The Rev. Thomas Parlette officiated at the services.