James F. Cooley

James Franklyn Cooley, 72, of Roberts, Idaho, passed away on May 19, 2026, at Idaho Falls Community Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Born on November 30, 1953, in Jerome, Idaho, to Bennie and Billie Cooley, James lived a life of hard work, quiet strength, stubborn independence, and unapologetic authenticity.

A dedicated sheep shearer and logger, James worked alongside his father and brothers in the family business for more than 40 years. When asked if his sons would attend college, his father famously replied, “No, they already went through college, the school of hard knocks.” James took great pride in passing that same work ethic down to his kids. In the Cooley family, you weren’t politely invited to join the business, you were expected to show up, learn, and earn your keep. As a result, you can still see that “school of hard knocks” diploma on proud display in all his children.

An avid outdoorsman, James spent his younger years racing dirt bikes with his brothers and hunting on week-long camping trips, chasing some of the best game the country had to offer. He loved telling the story of the biggest piece of junk dirt bike he ever bought. One jump took him airborne, the front tire completely fell off mid-air, and he came crashing down hanging onto the handlebars. After dusting himself off, the brothers helped load the wreck back onto the truck. James shook his head and said, “The only thing on this dang bike that hasn’t broke is the kickstand.” Right on cue, the kickstand snapped. They hauled it straight to the dump.

He knew every fishing hole and waterway in the area like the back of his hand. With his sharp mind, he stored these intricate details, no map to guide him, just knowledge, skill and instinct. In his later years, he traded the big adventures for simpler joys: tending his beloved rock garden at the Roberts home he shared with his wife, fishing the Snake River, or heading out to the Blackfoot Reservoir. He was known all around Roberts for his afternoon drives with his dogs at the high speed of “30 MPH” to go watch the wildlife he once hunted. If you needed someone to just sit with, you could always find him on the porch, in his cut-off jeans that were now “shorts”, watching the world go by at its own slow pace. Those were the moments he was at his best, quietly listening while you dramatically explained the latest “unimportant tragic event” of your day as if it were the end of the world.

James lived life entirely on his own terms. He held firmly to his values and principles, no matter what anyone else thought. He was a man of deep contentment and, as all his kids will readily tell you, “as stubborn as they come.” But when Super Bowl Sunday rolled around, he suddenly became very reasonable, always up for his grandfather’s famous advice: “13 cents was an honest man’s bet.”

He asked for little and gave generously in his own steadfast way. It is hard to put a lifetime of adventure in a small little space. There was fun fishing on the South Fork, going on the shearing runs, and he could always find the best swimming holes. Then the adventures and the memories grew with the blending of Jim and Linda’s family. One of the things he did best was love his beloved wife’s children as his own from the very beginning, giving them a stable home and life they might never have known. That quiet loyalty continued for decades, seen in weekly phone calls from his daughter Inez and the regular “20-minute visits” with his son Cheo on weekends.

He is survived by his children: Daughters, Shilo Cooley of Idaho Falls, ID, Inez Napier (Danny) of Mount Sterling, KY, Jessica Sparks (Josh) of Clay City, KY. Sons, Shane Cooley of Arco, ID, Jacob Cooley (Whitney) of Roberts, ID, Cheo de Soto (Megan) of Rigby, ID, Edwin Soto of Chubbuck, ID. along with his brothers, sister, and a large extended family and friends who will miss his dry wit and steady presence.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Linda S. Cooley; his parents, Bennie and Billie Cooley; his grandparents; his grandson, Dean Cooley and his great grandson, Onyxx Cooley.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 18th at 2:00 p.m. at 3053 E 670 N, Roberts, Idaho 83444 for James and his wife Linda. This will not be your typical structured service, just a place where friends and family can reminisce, chat, and remember the life of two enduring individuals.

James will be remembered as a simple man with a big heart, a strong back, and a stubborn streak a mile wide. He worked hard, loved deeply in his own way, and lived life fully on his own terms, never apologizing for any of it. His legacy of honesty, resilience, and quiet (sometimes very quiet) contentment will live on in everyone who knew him.