John Jackson Cooley, 76, of Harriman passed away on November 28, 2024, at NHC HealthCare Oak Ridge with his loving daughter by his side.  John was born July 8, 1948, in Harriman, TN to Faye (Easter) and Daniel Cooley Sr.  He graduated from Harriman High School in 1966 and attended Carson-Newman College before joining the Navy in December 1967.  John proudly served as an Aviation Boatswain's Mate-Launch & Recovery (ABE3) on the USS America (CV-66) reaching the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4).  After being honorably discharged from the Navy in December 1971 John returned to Harriman to attend Roane State Community College.  He worked until retirement as a master mechanic and then managed the commercial division at AutoZone in Harriman until his second retirement.

John was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dan Jr., and the love of his life Alice Turpin.  He is survived by his daughter Jessica and her three children, Alejandro, Joaquin, and Ayla; his sister Mimi; his brother Mark; several nieces, a nephew, and his best friend Doug (Vicki).

John was a very private man with a dry sense of humor who loved baseball, fishing, target shooting, and riding motorcycles with his buddies.  He was fond of saying that he was proud of four things: serving his country in the Navy, caring for his parents at the end of their lives, becoming Jessica's father, and being the kind of man, whom Alice would love, for 33 years.

The family will receive friends at Premier Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs on Sunday, December 22, 2024, from noon to 2 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m.  John will be buried at sea by the U.S. Navy at a late date per his final wishes.

The family would like to thank everyone at NHC HealthCare Oak Ridge and Caris Healthcare for their excellent and loving care during the past year.  Instead of flowers, John requested donations be made in his name to his grandchildren's favorite place, the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 W. Outer Dr., Oak Ridge, TN  37830.