Services will be Sunday, June 4, at 5:00 pm at the Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers for Stanley “Gene” Cooksey, 86, who slipped away on Wednesday, May 31, to join his beloved parents, Stanley and Eva Cooksey and friends, in a heavenly reunion.

Gene was born in Youngstown on October 23, 1929, he attended Centre College in Danville, KY, and then drove school bus for the Austintown Local School District.  He worked at Wean United in Youngstown for almost four decades.

Since 1965, Gene’s passion in life was owning, training, and driving Standardbred racehorses. He shared his passion with most of his family.  He was a longtime member of the United States Trotting Association (1977-2012) and the Canfield Harness Horseman’s Association. His many lifelong racetrack friends from Canfield will miss him dearly and we thank them for their eternal friendship.

Survivors include his five children Richard E. (Christine) Cooksey of Albany, OH, John S. “Jack” Cooksey of Columbus, OH, William A. “Bill” Cooksey of Shelbyville, KY, Patricia “PJ” Cooksey of Georgetown, KY, and Janice L. (Jerome) Norman of Georgetown, KY, from his marriage to Dorothy Dyer.

He also leaves his second wife, the former Jean Landry, of 43 years and stepchildren Raymond and Karen Landry, 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and one infant daughter, Janine.

The family extends a special thank you to the many nurses and doctors for their loving care and support at Maplecrest Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation and Hospice of the Valley.

Friends may call on Sunday at the funeral home two hours before the service from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

Material contributions in Gene’s name can be made to Hospice of the Valley at 5190 Market Street in Boardman, OH, 44512, and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at 1359 Broadway Suite 1509, New York, NY, 10018.

 Service Information