Madge L. Cooley

Madge Loraine Sadowsky (Putney) Cooley, age 90 — a fun-loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother — died peacefully on Friday, February 14, 2020, at home in Battle Creek.  Madge, formerly of Olivet and Montpelier, Ohio, was born December 4, 1929, at home in Clarence Township. She graduated from Olivet High School in 1948 and soon after married Kenneth Arthur Putney on August 7, 1948. Together, the two raised five children and enjoyed 25 years of marriage before Kenneth’s death in 1973. Aside from home life on the farm, Madge went to work for Olivet Schools as a substitute in the cafeteria, and in her eight years of service worked her way up to head of food service. She later married Robert Cooley, and the two spent 30 years of marriage in Ohio and enjoyed travel adventures to Germany, Alaska and Hawaii.  She enjoyed many things — from sewing, crochet, polka dancing and traveling to canning vegetables from her gardens. Many will remember Madge’s amazing homemade cinnamon rolls, a tradition she passed down to her daughters. After Bob’s death in 2011, she lived in Battle Creek with her daughter, where she enjoyed time with family and watching wildlife.
Madge is survived by three daughters, Teresa Ballard, Dana Putney, and Linda (Bill Claggett) Putney; eight grandchildren, Joe (Joyce) Hoffdahl, Ben (Marcie) Graves, Jenny (Andy) Fry, Michael Hoffdahl, Amy (Claude) Plante, Stephanie (Tuffy) Collier, Michelle (Dan) Verhougstraete, and Elisabeth Keever; nine great-grandchildren, Tiffany Graves, Colton Graves, Joseph Graves, Cooper Fry, Luc Plante, Braiden Meininger, Andi Grochowsky, Kelton Plante, and Preston Collier; three great-great-grandchildren, Carter Kelley, Logan Kelley, and Remington Graham; and her brother, Gene Sadowsky. She was predeceased by her first husband, Kenneth Putney in 1973; second husband, Robert Cooley in 2011; son, Byron Putney in 1973; daughter, Evelyn (Putney) Cain in 2009; and two siblings, Eleanor Sadowsky and Paul Sadowsky.
Friends are encouraged to support Madge’s family at visitation and services. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor James Gysel officiating. Interment took place at Lee Center Cemetery. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Southwest Michigan Humane Society at 2500 Watkins Rd., Battle Creek MI 49015. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Madge on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.