Mr. Cooksey died at his home after an extended illness. Born and raised in Charles County, he was a fixture in southern Maryland and was active in many professional, fraternal, and community organizations. Until his retirement in 1986, he owned and operated several farms and Cooksey's Store in Dentsville. He served as president of the Thomas Stone Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus and was an honorary life member of its Neale Council. He was a member of the Historical Society of Charles County and was associated with the Mattawoman Art Center at Smallwood State Park. His volunteer activities included the Charles County Fair Museum, the Richard Clark Center for Senior Citizens, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC where he served as usher, and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newport where he served as chairman of its finance committee. For 13 years, Mr. Cooksey was a commissioner on the Charles County Board of License and was chairman for five of those years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration appointed him for two four-year terms to administer loans for homes, farms, and small businesses. He was a Board of Election suprvisor for 39 years and was chief programming technician for voting machines in Charles County. He served as president of the Charles-St. Mary's Baseball League. He was vice president of Big Meadows, Inc., a 700 acre farm and hunting preserve in Kent County, MD and was supervisor of production for its 400 acres of row crops.

Son of the late William Elmer Cooksey and the late Amy Lee Cooksey.

Predeceased by his parents; his wife, Mary Louise Harrison Cooksey; and grandson, Nicholas Alan Schofield.

Survived by six children, Barbara Cooksey (Richard) Feeney of Swan Point and La Plata, MD, Betsy Cooksey (David) Lewis of Annapolis, MD, Brenda Cooksey (William) Gee of Moravian Falls, NC, Harold Roger (Lizabeth Lenhart) Cooksey, Jr., of Dentsville, MD, Bonnie Cooksey (Amon) Brown of Mechanicsville, MD, and Robert Somerset (Tammi Canter) Cooksey of Dentsville; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, from 4-7PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church at Newport (11555 St. Mary's Church Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622) with a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, at 2:00PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church at Newport.

Clergy: Fr. Fred MacIntyre.

Interment will be at the Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery (DuBois Road and Sycamore Road) in Charlotte Hall, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church at Newport, 11555 St. Mary's Church Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.

Arrangements provided by Raymond Funeral Service.