David A. Schooley

David A. Schooley, 57, of Germantown, TN, passed away Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, of heart complications due to a month-long battle with Covid. He was born September 22, 1963, in Cedar Rapids, IA, to Virginia R. (Techau) and the late Floyd Schooley (biological father). He married Sherri Thompson on December 22, 1990, after meeting her June 22, 1990, and celebrated their 30th anniversary this past year. David worked his way through college and, in 1989, obtained a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa. He was hired by Caterpillar, Inc. in Peoria, IL. He left Caterpillar for ALLDATA, a job he had for one year, as AutoZone moved it to its headquarters-in Memphis. He and his family reluctantly followed his job to Memphis. He worked for AutoZone for seven years, then took a job with ALSAC/St. Jude, where he worked for six years, happy his efforts helped cure children. His last job was at Express Scripts/Cigna, where he was able to work from home as an AGILE coach. He enjoyed his job, and his colleagues became like family during the pandemic. What set David a...[more]

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t was the kindness, humor and a sense of informality and familiarity he brought into every situation. He would often say outrageous things or little sly comments to elicit a smile. Often, he would regale his children with stories of when he fought in the jungles or various scenarios, completely fictional, of course. He was an avid student of history, a love he shared with his dad, James. He loved his family deeply and had a way of making each one of them feel special. He spoiled each of them outrageously. His grandchildren were the light of his life, and despite clogged toilets and marked up walls, he was so thankful to have lived with them for these past four years. His one fear, while in the hospital, was never seeing them again. In God's kindness, he allowed David to come home for a few days. David loved Legos-buying and selling Legos, building and displaying Legos, and talking about and watching videos about Legos! He loved music and movies and reading. Pre-family addition, he was an artist and spent hours meticulously painting his War Hammer soldiers before Saturday battles. Most recently, he engaged in role playing games that he could play with Caleb and John and online strategy games that he played with his brother Donny and nephew Chris. He really enjoyed the games, but he was intentional about building relationships. He built relationships while serving as a deacon and as a children's teacher for several years at St. Patrick. He was always comfortable with children, probably because he was just a big child himself! After being a member for sixteen years, his life reflected the values of St. Patrick: He loved God, he loved people, and he loved life. He will forever be loved and missed by those surviving: his wife, Sherri; children Andrea (John) Bray, Caleb, Ashlyn, Arlana, Savannah, and Ian; his grandchildren Rosemary, Nathaniel, and Gideon, all of the Memphis area; his mother, Virginia, brother, Donny Schooley; and sister, Dianna Lahue, of Marion, IA; brother-in-laws Kenny (Diane) Thompson and Larry Thompson of Elmwood, IL, and Keith Thompson of Bloomington, IL,; two sister-in laws, Louise Thompson of Elmwood, IL, and Sherri Schooley of Shellsburg, IA; nephews Chris (Georgia) Walker and family and Devin Schooley ; nieces Jenny Armstrong and Katie (Jacob) Ingalls and family, and Ayla Mease and family, all of IA; nieces Amber (Dru) Lesnick of Clive, IA, and Stacey Seipel and family of Elmwood, IL. He was preceded in death by his father, James Joslin, and his brother, Danny Schooley. Services will be held: TN service is Sat., August 14, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Presbyterian Church, Collierville, with an hour visitation preceding. IL service is Sat., August 21, at Lehigh Cemetery, Elmwood, IL, at 11:00 a.m. and open to the public. Please make memorials to St. Jude or to St. Patrick Presbyterian Church for an educational fund for his children.