James Cooley, 80, Founded The Flame
James William Cooley and his brother founded The Flame restaurant, with its neon sign and big plates of steak and seafood, on Central Way overlooking Lake Washington in 1951.
It was a hit with both the locals and the day-trippers from the Madison Park-Kirkland ferry. It would become an Eastside legend.
He sold it in 1957 to open a drive-in at Juanita, then the long-lived Cooley's Burger Mart on Rose Hill before fast-food was the norm. But The Flame legend burned on, its neon sign retained by other owners.
"He and his brother had been in business together before," said Mr. Cooley's daughter, Sarah Cooley of Bellingham. "The Flame was an original `surf and turf' restaurant."
Mr. Cooley died of emphysema Saturday (June 14). He was 80.
A big man with "warm, twinkly eyes," according to his daughter, he got into the food business early.
Born to tenant farmers in Eastern Montana, he and his brother Bob ran a small grocery store after graduating from high school.
They moved to Seattle about 1940 to work in the shipyards. Mr. Cooley joined the Army in World War II and served in the Pacific. After his discharge, he opened a tavern in Buckley, Pierce County.
"In 1951, they bought a building in Kirkland, repaired and remodeled it, and opened it as The Flame," his daughter said. "They tended bar and hired people to wait tables and cook."
Mr. Cooley did much of the cooking at home. But his family didn't often dine at his drive-ins because his wife didn't think it healthful to eat a lot of fried food.
During off hours, he enjoyed visiting the Elks Club and dancing with his wife in the group "The Shufflers."
"He pretty much worked all the time, although he did take my nephew to air shows and gave him his first ride in a plane," his daughter said.
Other survivors include his wife of 42 years, Ruth Cooley of Redmond; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His son John Cooley died in 1989, and his brother died in 1978.
A private service will be held. Memorials may go to any charity.