http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 15 December 2012 Obituary of Francis J. 'Diamond Jim' Coogan _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "Oil City News Herald" [PA], 02 MAY 2007): OBITUARY - Francis J. 'Diamond Jim' Coogan [photo] Francis J. "Diamond Jim" Coogan, 80, of 7 VoTech Drive, Apt. 6-C, Oil City, died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, April 30, 2007, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca, following an extended illness. Born May 31, 1926, in Sharon, he was the son of James Leo and Agnes Gregory Coogan. At a young age his family moved to Oil City where he attended schools. Mr. Coogan was a Yeoman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy during WW II, serving aboard the USS Abrams DE-575. He received the Asiatic, Pacific, American, European, African, Middle Eastern and Philippine Victory medals with three Bronze Stars. He served from Feb. 17, 1944, to Feb. 1, 1946, when he left his ship. He later was called up to serve during the Korean Conflict. A teamster and union steward, Mr. Coogan previously was employed by Halls and Daniels Trucking. He also did mail runs to Pittsburgh and Jamestown and was self-employed at the time of his death as an independent contractor for Chevron. He was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Siverly. He also belonged to the VFW and the B.P.O. Elks. Mr. Coogan was married in Winchester, Va., Feb. 13, 1960, to the former Betty Jean Reid, who preceded him in death Nov. 29, 2002. Surviving are nine children and their spouses, Michael and Marsha Coogan of Chesapeake, Va., James Leo Coogan, Kim and Tom Berry and Nancy and Perry Schreffler, all of Oil City; James Francis and Cynthia Coogan of Tennessee;, Cindy and Nic Noble and Jackie and Richard Eaton, all of Seneca; William Paul Weese of Sharon and Robert Seliskar of Tampa, Fla.; 24 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by one brother, Richard Coogan of Oil City; two sisters, Peg Sloan of Oil City and Jean Bayer of Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Coogan was preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Donald Coogan; two sons, Anthony Seliskar and Richard Weese; one sister in-law, Shirley Coogan; and two brothers- in-law, George Sloan and Kirby Bayer. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Reinsel Funeral Home and for one hour Friday in Our Lady Help of Christians Churchy before the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Msgr. Robert Smith, cousin of Mr. Coogan and Vicar General of the Erie Diocese, will preside. Interment with full military honors provided by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Oil City, 16301. Condolences may be left at www.reinselfuneralhome.com _______________________________________________________________________ (extracted from "Oil City Derrick" [PA], 02 MAY 2007): FRANCIS J. 'DIAMOND JIM' COOGAN [photo] - Francis J. "Diamond Jim" Coogan, 80, of 7 VoTech Drive, Apt. 6-C, Oil City, died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, April 30, 2007, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca, following an extended illness. Born May 31, 1926, in Sharon, he was the son of James Leo and Agnes Gregory Coogan. At a young age his family moved to Oil City where he attended schools. Mr. Coogan was a Yeoman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy during WW II, serving aboard the USS Abrams DE-575. He received the Asiatic, Pacific, American, European, African, Middle Eastern and Philippine Victory medals with three Bronze Stars. He served from Feb. 17, 1944, to Feb. 1, 1946, when he left his ship. He later was called up to serve during the Korean Conflict. A teamster and union steward, Mr. Coogan previously was employed by Halls and Daniels Trucking. He also did mail runs to Pittsburgh and Jamestown and was self-employed at the time of his death as an independent contractor for Chevron. He was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Siverly. He also belonged to the VFW and the B.P.O. Elks. Mr. Coogan was married in Winchester, Va., Feb. 13, 1960, to the former Betty Jean Reid, who preceded him in death Nov. 29, 2002. Surviving are nine children and their spouses, Michael and Marsha Coogan of Chesapeake, Va., James Leo Coogan, Kim and Tom Berry and Nancy and Perry Schreffler, all of Oil City; James Francis and Cynthia Coogan of Tennessee;, Cindy and Nic Noble and Jackie and Richard Eaton, all of Seneca; William Paul Weese of Sharon and Robert Seliskar of Tampa, Fla.; 24 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by one brother, Richard Coogan of Oil City; two sisters, Peg Sloan of Oil City and Jean Bayer of Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Coogan was preceded in death by two brothers, Michael and Donald Coogan; two sons, Anthony Seliskar and Richard Weese; one sister in- law, Shirley Coogan; and two brothers-in-law, George Sloan and Kirby Bayer. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Reinsel Funeral Home and for one hour Friday in Our Lady Help of Christians Churchy before the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Msgr. Robert Smith, cousin of Mr. Coogan and Vicar General of the Erie Diocese, will preside. Interment with full military honors provided by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Oil City, 16301. Condolences may be left at www.reinselfuneralhome.com _______________________________________________________________________