The halls have seemed a little emptier this year without one of the school’s busiest teachers. Longtime teacher Marcie Cooley passed away due to pancreatic cancer on July 5, 2012.  Cooley graduated from college in 1969 and over the next 19 years she taught in three different high schools, until she came to Marcus. She taught here from 1989 to 2012.

Besides teaching, she organized graduation for decades, and sponsored the senior class, Bake For Cancer and Habitat For Humanity. Because of her passion for basketball, she was the official score keeper for both girls and boys basketball. She even went to boys’ basketball state championships in Austin in both 2011 and 2012. In addition, Cooley was inducted as a lifetime member into the PTSA. But most of all she was a supporter of her students.

“She worked so hard and spent so much time helping students to pass or… get that score on the SAT so that they could get into college,” Assistant Principal Jason Mullins said. “She spent all of her efforts and all of her energy into helping her students.”

Cooley was also a part of a close knit group of teachers who called themselves the Yaya Sisterhood. The group included Sharon Madden, Jane Johnson, Cheryl Crawford, Mindy Sample and Cheryl Rayome.

“It’s been emotional walking down the hall by her room, because in the mornings I’d come by and pop my head in,” Johnson said. “We’d talk about our PSAT test or just visit about something on the news or share a joke.”

Last year in the Marquee paper, Cooley said that even though they were planning to retire, the Yayas would still try to keep in touch and do things together. Crawford and Rayome have both retired but the rest of the Yayas are still teaching. After her passing they all worked on her memorial service.

“We all pulled together and worked together and we tried to give her a good memorial service,” Johnson said.

 Many teachers and faculty members attended her Celebration of Life service. It was held here at the school in the silver gym on August 9.

“It was somber at times but lots of laughs, which is how she would have wanted it to be,” Mullins said. “Lots of people shared stories and experiences from knowing and working with her. It was a really great night.”

The Marcus Orchestra played at the service. Johnson said that she loved the music that they played.

“It just seemed to be so fitting,” Johnson said.” I didn’t cry but I felt great warmth that we had served her well and paid tribute to her as a human being.”

Before the memorial the staff held a spaghetti dinner. Tickets were $10 and all of the proceeds went to the Marcie Cooley Scholarship Fund. It is awarded to a senior who meets Lewisville Education Fund criteria.

“It’s just a way to honor such a great lady,” Assistant Principal Dorrie Loughborough said.