Marilyn Cooney

Marilyn Yolande Oehler Cooney, 93, died of natural causes on September 4, 2024. Born on December 17, 1930, she was one of three daughters of the late Samuel and Sara (Gorton) Oehler of PA. She grew up in Aliquippa, PA, moved to Washington, D.C. as a young adult where she married her first husband, John Lockwood, and then to Jacksonville Beach, FL in the early 1950s where she raised her daughter Pamela Lockwood. She was divorced in 1975 and met her husband, John Cooney, in 1977 at a square dance at Mayport Naval base. They were married in 1979.

Marilyn lived in "The Beaches" for more than 70 years including Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and Atlantic Beach. She became a member of St. Paul’s By The Sea Episcopal Church in the early 1950s, being confirmed, married and laid to rest there on October 12, 2024 next to her daughter Pamela (1998) and husband John (2017).

Marilyn excelled in many roles including stenographer, wife, mother, Girl Scout troop leader, operating room assistant, legal assistant, insurance claims specialist, bookkeeper, realtor, and Meals On Wheels volunteer. She enjoyed camping in the mountains, square dancing, traveling, playing Scrabble, attending the theater with her dear friend Linda, listening to classical music with John (her favorite being Swan Lake), spending time with family and friends (many who loved visiting her and John in Florida), Wii bowling and playing Mexican Train dominoes with her friends at Fleet Landing.

Marilyn and John enjoyed cruise ship traveling to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada, Alaska, Nova Scotia and the Panama Canal. They loved visiting Hawaii, the North Carolina mountains, the National Parks, the American west, New England and numerous destinations throughout Florida. She also traveled to Moscow, Russia with her mother.

Family was very important to Marilyn. She and John traveled to attend many family baptisms, graduations, confirmations and weddings. They shared their home, beach club and Fleet Landing with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including regular visitor Faith (Chris and Sherri Ripley, OH). Ask the youngest ones and they'll talk about Grandma and Grandpa’s interest in their schools, friends and sports, hours spent swimming, playing on the beach, participating in the Polar Bear Plunge, watching Fleet Landing's ospreys, learning fine dining in the Fleet Landing dining room, playing board games, and watching Grandpa with his "magic trick" bag.

Marilyn held herself to “old school” standards and remained active into her last days. She was a joy to all that knew her.

She is predeceased by her daughter Pamela Lockwood Regan, husband John J. Cooney, and sisters Jackie Nary and Violet Beckel. She is survived by her niece Marilyn Nary Matthews, of Beaumont, CA., son-in-law Eric Regan (former wife Pamela), daughter-in-law Rhonda Regan, and grandsons Josh Proctor (Effy) and Bill Regan of Alpharetta GA. She was Bill's devoted Godmother. She is also survived by John's family, including stepdaughters Colleen Cooney, Cathi Cooney, and Sharon Schultz (William), all of NJ; and numerous beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Marilyn’s Celebration of Life will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at St. Paul’s By The Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach, FL with Reverend Penny Pfab presiding. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Guiding Eyes For the Blind in Yorktown Heights N.Y. or St. Paul’s By The Sea Episcopal Church.