Allen R. Cooley, I I I, Ph.D.

Saltillo - Allen Richard Cooley, III, Ph.D., 59, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009, after an extended illness. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he was born May 22, 1950 to Allen Richard Cooley, II and Gertrude Goss Cooley. He was a clinical psychologist at North Mississippi Medical Center's Behavioral Health Center and had been employed there for over 19 years. He attended Mary Queen of Heaven Elementary School and Nazareth High School in Brooklyn, to be followed by a career as a musician in the New York City area. A stint as a New York city cabdriver in the early 1970's also occurred during this time. Having started college at age 28, when he turned 30, he changed colleges and majors from music to psychology. He then received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master's Degree in Psychology from Hofstra University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arkansas. He had many professional interests. He was a former member of the Society for Personality Assessment, and was received as a Founding Fellow into the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. More recently, he received training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He was a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 12 of APA, The Society of Clinical Psychology, The Mississipi Psychological Association, The International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy and The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He was also very interested in the interface of psychology and faith. He was a Catholic and attended St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo. He hoped to receive training in pastoral counseling and spiritual direction and was working ona Master's Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans at the time of his death.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at St. James Catholic Church with Father Tom Lalor and Father Henry Shelton officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his best friend, Betty Lee Marshall and six first cousins, Edward Goss, Robert Goss and Eileen Goss Dorso, Mary Ellen Cooley Hass, Winnie Cooley and Larry Cooley.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Morris Alexander and "The Gents," Art Gentry, Dave Randazzo, Eddie Sanders, Johnny Frank Turman, and David Welch

Honorary pallbearers will include Dr. Cooley's Co-workers at the Behavioral Health Center, especially, Drs. Cecile Goysich, Susan Hyatt, Mike Oliver, Brian Thomas, Thom Witty; the Tupelo LIMEX Class of 2008; Mary and David Knoble, Julie Bataille, Jayne Bellando, Peter Zagare, Angela Nash, Martin Dillard, and Dr. Cooley's friends at Westbriar Subdivision, especially Ann and Russell Board and John and Elizabeth Arnold and "The Old People at Play."

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church, followed by a Prayer Vigil for the Deceased.

Memorials may be made to St. James Caotholic Church, 845 Lakeshire Drive, Tupelo MS 38804.