John Lee Wooley

John Lee Wooley, age 59, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan passed away Tuesday evening, July 14, 2015 at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. John was born January 11, 1956 in Houston, Texas to Marvin and Mary (Fellers) Wooley. He was a graduate of Sam Houston High School and continued his education at the University of Houston where he earned his Bachelor's degree. John Married Shelley Kae Stork on April 19, 1987 at St. Andrews by the Sea in San Diego, CA. John retired as from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security in 2012, serving most recently as the Special Agent in Charge of Northern Michigan, He and his family came to Michigan in 2006 after serving nearly five years as the Deputy Attache' for Homeland Security to Brazil and Bolivia, where he was attached to both the U. S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil and the U. S. Consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Prior to his service in Brazil, he served in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nogales, Arizona, Houston, Texas and Galveston, Texas. He also served with the U. S. Border Patrol in San Clamente, California. During the Vietnam War, he served in the U. S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. Despite the substantial cases that he facilitated, and significant impact into the illicit activities of those who would traffic narcotics into the United States, as well as illegal gun trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking and smuggling of all kinds, John was a humble and kind man. However, if he found you on the wrong side of right, he was not to be trifled with. Despite his gentle nature, he was not someone to be dismissed. For his sons, he was larger than life and for his wife, he was her soulmate. He often said he wanted to be remembered as having been a kind man, an honorable man and a man who loved to laugh. John was a member of FLEOA (Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association) and St. James Episcopal Church. He helped with the local Boy Scouts. Before moving to Sault Ste. Marie, he helped start a troop in Green Valley, AZ, and he ran a Lone Scout Troop a the US Embassy in Brasilia. John was currently restoring two Volkswagen Karmann Ghias. He was very proud that all three of his sons were attending college and that Joshua played soccer for Algoma University and that Travis plays football for University of Michigan. John is survived by his wife: Shelley Kae (Stork) Wooley; three sons: Joshua Russell Wooley, Robert Travis Wooley, and Macon Augustus Wooley all of Sault Ste. Marie, MI; and a cherished granddaughter: Payton. John is also survived by his siblings Irene (Willard) Moore of Clear Lake, TX, and Marva (Larry) Franks of New Caney, TX. John was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Mary Wooley and four siblings: Joe Wooley, Lawrence Wooley, Cecilia Wilson, and Judy Carver. A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 20, 2015 at St. James Episcopal Church with Reverend Bob Aldrich and Reverend Susan Harries as co-celebrants. Friends may gather at the church from 10:00 until 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to Be The Match.

Tributes

John Lee Wooley

January 11, 1956 - July 14, 2015