The Vision

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The names Jim and Barbara Cooney are synonymous with leadership in the Sedalia community. The couple is known for dedicating their lives to working on projects to help improve the quality of life for fellow residents and inspire others to find their creative voices.

 

About Jim

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The son of Harry and Marceline Cooney, Jim showed an early penchant for leadership. He graduated from Sacred Heart School where he served as student council president and editor of the newspaper. He was a standout basketball and baseball player and remains a loyal supporter of Sacred Heart athletic teams. His working life included positions with Missouri Pacific Railroad, Homemakers Furniture, ERA Blue Ribbon Real Estate, and Northwest Lighting Supply. An avid sportsman, he has enjoyed memorable fishing trips and is a member of the Hole in One Club. Jim has filled many leadership roles in the Sedalia community over the years and at Sacred Heart Church as a lifelong member including being a greeter, lector, and Eucharistic minister and board member. He remains an active member of the parish.

 

About Barbara

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The daughter of Pierre and Eileen O’Sullivan Lamy, Barbara also graduated from Sacred Heart School and was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She earned a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Missouri and taught French and English at Smith-Cotton High School for 15 years. In addition, she studied fine arts and taught art outreach classes at State Fair Community College. Barbara was a champion of creative education through the arts. She attended and facilitated at the Creative Problem-Solving Institute in Buffalo, New York, for 23 years, supported and helped to develop arts organizations on the state and local level, established the Barbara Lamy Cooney Endowment for the Arts, and for 20 years chaired Camp Blue Sky Inc. She has exhibited her artwork across the state of Missouri and twice won the Missouri State Fair Top Fifty. The Missouri Arts Council awarded her the Missouri Arts Award in 2011. She was also honored with the Liberty Center Association for the Arts STAR Award, a Sacred Heart Alumni Award, and the Spirit of Maryville Award in 2019. Barbara passed away in May 2019 after a long illness and a life well-lived.

 

Their Legacy

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The Cooneys celebrated 58 years of marriage and two daughters as well as six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Their commitment to work together in support of their family and community built a legacy that benefits generations to come.