Harry Rosasco Pooley, 91, passed away on Thursday, June 6.

He was born in Sonora on Jan. 24, 1922 to William James Pooley and Matilda Rosasco Pooley.

He spent his childhood on the family ranch in Keystone, CA. He attended both elementary and high school in Sonora, where he even drove the school bus because as he said, “I was the last kid on the line.”

After high school, he had the opportunity to play minor league baseball but chose to stay at the family ranch and learn the cattle business from his father and many uncles in the Rosasco family.

In 1942 he joined the 55th Seabees of the United States Navy. He traveled the Pacific and was very proud of the time he served.

In 1947 he met Betty Ann Dorroh and they later married. Together they raised three children, Louise, Bill and Jane.

He continued to work in the cattle business, enjoying every minute of it, although as he frequently said, “the price of beef was too low and the price of feed was too high.”

After retiring from the cattle business he turned his attention to his beloved garden. He grew a little of everything but was most proud of his tomatoes and onions. He loved giving his produce to friends and always kept some in his truck because he never knew who he would run into. He was blessed with many friends who were very important in his life. His first priority was always his family and their happiness. Family dinners were a regular occurrence and were filled with wild stories and laughter. The pride and love he had for his family always showed through his great smile.

Survivors include his daughters, Louise Pooley (Larry) Sanders and Jane Pooley and her husband David Torres; grandchildren Bill (Jamie) Pooley, Danielle Sanders, Katie and Anne Siegfried; great grandchildren Marcus and Nicole Pooley; and niece Kathy (Ralph) Lachman.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty, son Bill, grandson Jonathan Sanders and brother Wilbur.

Rosary will be Wednesday, June 12 at 5 p.m. followed by a Funeral Mass on Thursday, June 13 at 10 a.m., both at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oakdale. A reception will follow the funeral at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Oakdale Cowboy Museum, P.O. Box 1155, Oakdale, CA 95361.