Wyllodean Cooley, 85, of Bella Vista, Arkansas, left this earthly home for her heavenly home on February 19, 2026. Born November 10, 1940, in Double Springs, Alabama, she was the beloved daughter of Robert Lee Pearson and Johnnie Lee (Howell) Pearson.

Wyllodean's life was a beautiful love story rooted in faith and family. She met the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Cooley, at a dairy bar in Tupelo, Mississippi.  A simple meeting that blossomed into a lifelong partnership filled with devotion, laughter, and unwavering love. Together, they built a home centered on their shared faith in God and their deep commitment to family.

She graduated from Pontotoc High School in 1959 and went on to live a life rich with purpose, creativity, and grace.

Her greatest devotion was to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Wyllodean loved the Lord deeply and was known as a faithful prayer warrior who lifted countless people up in prayer. She faithfully served her church by teaching Sunday School and participating in Bible Drill, helping guide young hearts and plant seeds of faith that would last a lifetime. Her faith was not only something she believed, but it was something she lived, daily and faithfully.  Some of her final words were a prayer asking our heavenly Father to bless and keep her children.

Wyllodean was a woman of many gifts. She was a marvelous seamstress who lovingly made beautiful clothes for her girls, stitching into every piece not just fabric, but her care and devotion. She had a remarkable talent for refinishing furniture, restoring worn pieces into something beautiful again. She enjoyed crocheting and taught herself to knit, always keeping her hands busy creating things that would comfort and bless others. She also served as an adored 4-H leader, investing her time and heart into young lives, encouraging them and helping them grow in confidence and skill.

More than anything, Wyllodean was her daughters' biggest supporter and proudest cheerleader. She believed in them, encouraged them, and stood beside them through every season of life. Her love was steady, sacrificial, and unconditional. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy was her family. Her home was a place of warmth, comfort, and belonging, and her legacy is one of faith, strength, and enduring love.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert M. Cooley; her sisters, Margaret Guyula Davis and Bobbie Jean Brown; and her brother, Billie Joe Pearson.

She leaves behind those who will forever carry her love in their hearts: her daughters, Debbie Vaught (David) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Sherrie Black of Tupelo, Mississippi; her grandsons, Trae Vaught (Michelle) and Beau Black (Amanda); and her treasured great-granddaughter, Willa, who each brought her immeasurable joy.

Though her family grieves her absence, they find peace in knowing she is now with those who have gone before her and in the presence of her Savior, hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful daughter."

A private celebration of life will be held for the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Wyllodean's memory by loving your family deeply, cherishing every moment, and holding your loved ones close, remembering that each day is a gift.

Her prayers, her strength, and her love will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.