Roll Call Tribute

Bernard "Matt" Cooley, DVM 

January 27, 1925 - February 18, 2025 

Matt "Doc" Cooley, age 100, of Benton, Louisiana, passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, in Bossier City, Louisiana. He met his Lord and Savior while holding the hand of his wife, that never left his side.

Matt was born on January 27, 1925, in Headrick, Oklahoma, to Matt Echols and Ida Bell Cooley. After high school, Matt enlisted in the Navy as a Merchant Marine. He served during WWII, all while completing his studies at Texas A&M University, located in College Station, Texas. Matt received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine with honors in 1948. He began his career as an Equine Surgeon, practicing in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. He also taught Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M, where he was an alumni. Doc moved to Bossier City in 1974 to open an equine practice to primarily work on race horses that ran at the newly opened Louisiana Downs. He worked at that practice until he retired in 2005. Doc immediately went to work for the La. State Racing Commission as a horse inspector. He held that position until 2012 when he was offered the Equine Medical Director for the Racing Commission. Doc remained the director until his passing. Matt loved horses and the people he met during his career, as he considered them family.

His hobbies included gardening, extensive travel, and spending time with family. Matt's favorite travel destinations would include Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Rockport, Texas, as he and his wife traveled there multiple times. Matt also traveled to Israel, where he described it as the most unique country he had ever experienced. Matt shared his stories of travel and one we recall was this trip to Israel. He said it reminded him of how he would envision biblical times and how it moved him knowing he walked where Jesus walked. Among other extraordinary countries his experiences were vast and memorable.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Matt Cooley and Ida Bell Akins; his brothers, Johnny Cooley and Bill Cooley; cousin, Barbara Jean Simms.

Matt is survived by his loving wife, Edith Lynn Cooley; children and their spouses, Bucky (Terri) Cooley, Lynea (Jr) Hollis, Jeremy (Leslie) Watts, and SunnyLynn (Bryan) Smith; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A visitation for Matt will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel, followed by a celebration of life at 2:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at https://vetmed.tamu.edu/giving/.