Memorial service for Devon Cooley, 11-year-old drowning victim, to be Thursday
A public memorial will be held Thursday, June 16, for Devon Cooley, the 11-year-old boy who drowned after being swept by fast-moving water from heavy rains at Gypsum Creek in south Wichita.
His service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Old Mission Mortuary, 3424 E. 21st St.
Cooley went missing May 27 after heavy rains, his body was found June 4 and officials confirmed his identity June 8.
Cooley’s family welcomes the public to Thursday’s service.
His family set up two donation collections in the 11-year-old’s honor: one to cover service funds, through GoFundMe.com, a crowd-sourcing site; and another for a water safety program to educate and protect children in the future, through DevonCooley.com, which will double as the family’s memorial site.
Memorial service donations can also be sent by postal mail, addressed to the Cooley Family, P.O. Box 16171, Wichita, KS 67216.
The family also seeks volunteers for educational presentations about water safety for middle school students. For more information, or to volunteer, contact the family via the P.O. box or through DevonCooley.com.
Gabriella Dunn: 316-268-6400, @gabriella_dunn
This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 3:03 PM with the headline "Memorial service for Devon Cooley, 11-year-old drowning victim, to be Thursday."