Obituaries

Jay Chamness

December 15, 1943 to June 14, 2022

WINAMAC - Jay Chamness, 78, of Winamac, passed away Tuesday, June 14, following a brave, year- long battle with dementia.

He was born Dec. 15, 1943 in Winamac to the late Kenneth and Pauline Passmore Chamness. He was a member of the Winamac Class of 1961. In November 1966, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in November 1968, having received a Purple Heart. He was a lifetime member of the Winamac VFW Post #1728 and the Winamac American Legion Post #71. He was a proud recipient of a Quilt of Valor in 2011. On June 13, 1965, he married Helen Stump in Winamac. She survives.

Jay Chamness

He is also survived by:
Missie (Scott) Brogdon, Winamac, Daughter
Jeff (Jennifer) Chamness, Bloomington, Son
Bethany Brogdon, Cedar Park, TX, Granddaughter
Erika Brogdon, Monticello, Granddaughter
Katelin Chamness, Bloomington, Granddaughter
Kyle Chamness, Bloomington, Grandson
Patty (Donald) Heims, Winamac, Sister
Anita (John) Gehlhausen, Loogootee, Sister-in-law
John Brookman, Erie, CO, Brother-in-law
Many Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins

Preceded in death by:
Carolyn Brookman, Sister
Joan (Glenn) Snyder, Sister
Kay (Oley) Schneider, Twin Sister
Bud and Midge Stump, In-Laws
Mike Stump, Brother-in-law
Susan Brookman, Niece
Derek Gilman, Nephew
Scott Brookman, Nephew
Buck and Homie, Favorite Furry Friends

Mr. Chamness was a very hard worker, and worked many years at Tee-Pak, Wallace’s Chicken Farm, farming, and finally retired in 2005 from Pulaski White Rural Telephone Co-Op after 27 years of service. He was a juror on Ford Pinto Trial in 1980 in Winamac. He was locally famous for selling the best homegrown sweetcorn for nearly 50 years. Dementia ended the era of Jay’s Sweetcorn before the 2021 season. His favorite hobbies were growing sweetcorn and veggies, mushroom hunting, playing cards, fishing, and bowling.

Helen always said that Jay was her oldest kid because he was always outside playing dodgeball, kickball, and basketball with the neighborhood kids. In winters, he enjoyed pulling Missie and Jeff (when they were kids) and their friends on sleds behind the three-wheeler. Jay was a diehard Winamac Warriors fan and never missed a game of Bethany or Erika’s. He was a proud supporter Katelin and Kyle’s bowling endeavors. He loved the Indiana Hoosiers, NCAA Men’s Basketball, and NCAA Women’s Softball. He always rooted for the Hoosiers and anyone playing Purdue. The family notes - Jay was the sweetest fella, whose smiley, silly, and loving nature left lasting impressions on many. He would want to thank his faithful corn people for the laughs and support over the years. Whenever you eat sweetcorn and have it all over your face, think of Jay. The family wishes to thank the staff of White Oak Health Campus in Monticello, for taking such good care of Jay the last several months of his life.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 18, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the funeral home with Pastor Jeff Seger officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac. Military graveside services will be conducted by the Winamac VFW and American Legion.

Memorial donations may be made to Memorial Swinging Bridge Project or Pulaski Animal Center. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Raymond F. Cooley

January 26, 1943 to June 5, 2022

FRANCESVILLE - Raymond F. “Ray” Cooley, 79, a lifelong resident of Francesville, passed away Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Parkview Haven Retirement Home in Francesville.

He was born Jan. 26, 1943 in Francesville to Floyd M. and Jeannette M. LaRose Cooley. Both of his parents passed away in 1991. He attended Francesville Grade School and graduated from Francesville High School in 1961. He attended Purdue University for two years and obtained an associate’s degree in technical engineering and drafting.

Raymond Cooley

He is survived by a sister, Karen Cooley Bollhoefer of Francesville. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Rita Lynn.

Mr. Cooley began his nearly 30-year career at Monon Trailer working in the fabrication plant producing parts for the company’s flatbed line. He was quickly promoted to day shift supervisor over fabrication. In the 1970s, he was promoted to fabrication manager and was responsible for all three shifts, until he retired in May 1991. He continued in this field when he started working for Ezra Welding & Metal Fabrication where they made parts for Model T automobiles and Ertyl Toys before beginning their own line of toy truck and construction items. Ray excelled in making metal fabricated toys and was known to design and build many of his own pieces. Never one to sit idle, he worked for various Francesville businesses over the years, including farming, plumbing-and-heating, and electrical and construction work. Most recently he worked for Clear Decision Filtration, where it was jokingly said he worked “part-time, seven days a week.” One his more visible hobbies was in the area of building and owning modified midget and mini sprint race cars. He was the Eastern vice president of NMMA from 1977-1984. He was a championship car owner with NMMA in 1995, and also AMSA Sprint Division with Mike Neher as his driver for over 30 years.

Mr. Cooley was a member of the Francesville Volunteer Fire Department for 50 years and was instrumental in the design and construction of the kitchen when it was built. He was very loyal to the town of Francesville, organizing the parade for the town festival for 50 years. He retired in 2019. He recently received the Milestone Chevron Award for 25 years of service in the Lions Club International. He was also a member of Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club, the Lafayette Corvette Club and the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Club.

A private graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in North Judson, in honor of Mr. Cooley’s wish because he always said, “I don’t want the fire trucks blocking the streets because of me.” Private burial follow at the cemetery.

In lieu of food, flowers, and gifts, please make memorial donations to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville.