Martha D. C. Cooley

Martha Dale Cook Cooley, 85, of Hot Springs, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026. Martha Dale was born on Aug. 30, 1940, to Joe Helen (Williamson) Cook and Hyram Dale Cook in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years and lifelong boyfriend, Eldon Dickey Cooley; her children, Melissa (Bobby) Caldwell and Chris (Cristy) Cooley; grandchildren, Catherine (Blake) Thornton, Caroline Caldwell, Jacob and Emma Grace Cooley; brother-in-law, Mark Anthony; nieces, Amy Anthony McQueen and Lori Durham Abele; nephew, Will (Danielle) Anthony; great nieces, Charlee Anthony, Mary Claire and Cora Abele; great nephews, Colin and Jack McQueen as well as numerous other extended family members and friends.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents and sister-in-law, Charlotte Cooley Anthony.

Martha Dale graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1958, and attended Arkansas Teachers College for one year before transferring to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she pledged Pi Beta Phi and made many lifelong friends. She graduated with a degree in Education/English. Upon graduation, Martha taught English, History and Social Studies in the Hot Springs School System. When her children were grown, Martha furthered her education, earning her Masters in English at Henderson State University where she initially became a graduate assistant in the writing lab and went on to become the writing lab director.

Martha Dale enjoyed reading, working in her yard, and arranging flowers. For many years she played bridge and had taken it up again at Woodland Heights. She tried her hand at needle point, knitting, and in the 70's painted and decorated her children's lunch boxes, furniture, pictures and several purses. She was a master with flower arrangements. Martha Dale won many awards at flower shows and became a lifetime Garden Club judge. She loved to entertain and go to parties. She was often asked to be in charge of the flowers for events and loved to help in any way she could.

Martha loved to attend Razorback football games with Dickey every Fall. They always took their children to games or hosted other couples. Martha Dale and Dickey skied with the Hot Springs Ski Club and traveled to Europe and Hawaii making friends on their trips. Despite a fear of heights and disdain for deep water, she loved her trips to Ireland and Italy where she gamely hung off the ledge and kissed the blarney stone and rode in a small row boat into the Blue Grotto on the Isle of Capri.

Her most favorite time was being "Honey" to her four grandchildren. Martha Dale and Dickey loved keeping "their babies" for weekends. She regularly attended school events, dance performances, swim meets, basketball games, and cross country meets. Martha Dale was always a Razorback fan. When her four grandchildren went to college she fervently cheered on their college teams, staying up late watching Michigan and reveling in the renaissance of Vanderbilt football.

Martha Dale will be remembered as a great friend to all who knew her. She loved an elegant party, pretty shoes, beautiful flowers, quality time with friends and a good cake with lots of icing (corner piece preferred). She was a beautiful soul who will be forever missed.

The family would like to thank La Quita Aings, who is a dear friend of the family and helper to Martha Dale. The staff at Woodland Heights where she had lived since December and Zann Jordan her hospice nurse. Their kindness, friendship, and help will never be forgotten.

Please join the family to celebrate Martha's life. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., on Wednesday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home at 155 Section Line Road in Hot Springs. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m., Thursday at Grand Avenue Methodist Church with Rev. David Fleming officiating with interment to follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Online obituary and guestbook are available athttp://www.Caruth-Hale.com.