8 minute read
Meet the Cooneys
Meet the Cooneys Cooneys
The Cooney name is one you’ve most likely heard around Canyon Creek. After all, Greg Cooneywas very instrumental in developing the neighborhood hot spot, II Creeks. Although you may have heard of the Cooney family, getting to know them is twice as nice. The first set of Cooneys I had the pleasure of getting to meet was Greg and Pam and their three children, Kenley, Katy, and Charlie. It was a beautiful fall day, perfect for hanging out and taking pictures in their home. As I walked up to their adorable Cape Cod-style home, I was immediately welcomed by Greg and Pam. If you know Pam, you’ll agree that she exudes a southern charm that radiates throughout their home. Greg, just as inviting, makes you feel like you’ve known him for years. Next in the lineup of introductions was their middle child, Katy, and their youngest son, Charlie. Both funny and light hearted, I knew right away I would enjoy getting to know them. After scoping out locations in their backyard for pictures, their oldest daughter, Kenley, arrived from her home in uptown, and our photographer started snapping away. Watching this sweet family interact, laugh, and occasionally lovingly jab at one another, reminded me of my own family. It reminded me that no matter how far apart you may be from your family, time together is truly good for the soul. With Charlie being the only Cooney kid left at home, it was apparent they were all enjoying each other’s company and being reunited. Plain “fun” is the word I would use to describe my time with the Cooneys.
Once we finished up with Greg and Pam’s family, we ventured over to Greg’s parents’ home on High Canyon. Barbara and Mike Cooney, who brought Greg and his two sisters to the neighborhood 42 years ago, built their current home in Canyon Creek 20 years ago. Their beautiful two-story, mid-century style home is filled with charm, gorgeous antique pieces, and two of Barbara’s favorite colors, red and blue. It’s neatly decorated and bodes well for entertaining, which is one thing Barbara loves to do. Their backyard is just as welcoming as the inside of their home, with a luxurious patio, serenepool, and lush landscaping. It’s very apparent that the Cooneys take pride in their home and enjoy hosting gatherings for their family and friends. Mike and Barbara are also very active in the neighborhood and have been able to not only watch their children grown up in Canyon Creek, but their grandchildren as well. As you will see in our interview with Barbara and Mike, they truly love their family–and their Canyon Creek family. The Cooney family is just another family that make the heart of this neighborhood beat.
The Cooneys: Greg, Pam, Kenley, Katy and Charlie
CCL: How long have you lived in Canyon Creek?
Greg: 42 years. I went to Aldridge starting in 4th grade. Pam and I bought our first home together in 1991.
Greg: We have lived in our current home for two years. This is our fifth (and hopefully final) Canyon Creek home.
Pam: Kenley, age 23, graduated from Texas Tech and currently teaches Kindergarten at Skyview Elementary in RISD. Katy, age 21, will graduate from Texas A&M in December and has accepted a job in Bryan, TX with Still Creek Ranch. Charlie, age 15, is a freshman at J.J. Pearce High School. He’s on the Pearce football team and is involved with the Pearce theatre as well.
CCL: Do you have any pets?
Pam: Yes! We have Ruby, a beloved Papillon that Greg adores and cooks scrambled eggs for every morning.
CCL: What schools (elementary, junior high, high school) did your children attend?
Greg: All three kids attended Prairie Creek Elementary, North Junior High, and J.J. Pearce High School.
CCL: Are you involved with any philanthropies or volunteer opportunities?
Pam: I’m very involved with Bible Study Fellowship as a children’s leader volunteer. I also volunteer in the classroom as a teacher’s helper at Skyview Elementary, where Kenley teaches. I spend time on the Theatre Board at Pearce, and I also volunteered at Prairie Creek Elementary when the kids attended school there.
Greg: Christmas Eve. The extended family meets at church (Dad and I have a running bet on how late my oldest sister Kim will be!). After church we head to mom and dad’s house for a big meal and controlled chaos! Everyone gets matching pajamas or sweats. I have a lot of “never worn” sweat suits!
CCL: What is your favorite get away spot?
Pam: We love going to our lake house on Lake Cypress Springs.
CCL: What is your favorite vacation spot?
Pam: We go snow skiing every year, usually in Colorado. This year we are excited about a trip to Jackson Hole.
Greg: The revitalization of the neighborhood and surrounding area...lots of tear downs and remodels in the immediate area, plus LOTS of great new retail developments all around us. Despite all of these surface changes, the neighborhood still feels the same as it did 40 years ago. Great sense of community and compassion for fellow neighbors.
CCL: What store or restaurant were you most excited about opening in/near Canyon Creek?
Greg: I’m really excited to see the completion of the City Line project (State Farm Campus). I’m looking forward to all the new restaurants. It will be great to have so many dining options close to home.
CCL: What’s your favorite neighborhood spot of Canyon Creek?
Greg: Shady’s, of course. It’s a great place to run into neighbors and friends. It has really been a fun project and I’ve enjoyed working with my partners to see our vision become a reality.
CCL: How long have you lived in Canyon Creek?
Barbara and Mike: 42 Years.
Barbara and Mike: 20 years.
CCL: What positions/volunteer positions have you held for CC?
Barbara: I have been a member of Canyon Creek North Garden club for many years. We were both also very active in our children's schools with the Aldridge PTA and Prairie Creek Elementary Advisory Council. We also are part of Neighborhood Beautification and Meals on Wheels.
Barbara and Mike: We have threechildren, Kim, Greg, and Carolyn. Kim and her husband Jeff Rutkowski live in Celina, TX. Greg and his wife, Pam Cooney live in Canyon Creek. And Carolyn and her husband, David Bacon, live in Bent Tree North.
CCL: How many kids went to Canyon Creek schools and what were they?
Barbara and Mike: All three of our children attended the Plano school district, because at that time we lived where our ally divided Plano schools from Richardson schools.
Barbara and Mike: All of our three children live locally and we have enjoyed getting to be a part of their lives and sharing in the many fun times with our seven grandchildren. Kenley Cooney (23), Katy Cooney (21), Charlie Cooney (15), Brock Bacon (19), Bailey Bacon (16), Brodie Bacon (8), and Jake Rutkowski (17). Brock is a freshman at Dartmouth College and Bailey and Brodie both attend Trinity Christian Academy in Addison. Jake is a junior at Celina High School.
CCL: Before retiring, what was your career and where did you work?
Barbara: I so enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and wife. I stayed active with the children and enjoyed the many joys of family and friends and the “Canyon Creek Life”. As the children got older, I went to work part time. I was a personal shopper for Sanger Harris (Macy's) and later enjoyed being a part of the Neiman Marcus Fur salon sales team.
Mike: I worked for Texas Instruments Defense Systems for 30 years as a quality assurance engineer; Vice President Quality & Reliability.
Barbara: II Creeks, which most of us call "our village", has brought extra energy to our beloved neighborhood. I love running into old friends and also getting to meet and greet our newcomers. Mike: The biggest change is the increase in retail and dining options.
CCL: You were most excited when what store opened in/near Canyon Creek?
Barbara: Oh, I was so excited about all the restaurants, but I think that my very favorite thing and one of the first to open was the world-class "Spa at II Creeks". Of course, I love all three restaurants in II Creeks and enjoy the best ice cream at Sweet Firefly.
Mike: There are many that I could mention, but our ice cream parlor (Sweet Firefly) ranks right up there at the top.
CCL: What’s the biggest hidden gem of Canyon Creek?
Barbara: I love so many things about Canyon Creek, but I really love the creek and the woods and walking over the bridges.
Mike: II Creeks Center.
CCL: Any other comments on Canyon Creek?
Barbara: Before we ever moved to Canyon Creek, I used to bring Kim and Greg to the creek to fish and stroll in the woods. I enjoyed bringing our grandchildren to enjoy the same pleasures.
Mike: The neighborhood has become much more active in providing activities and events for all residents, creating a "small town" environment where most everyone knows each other.
