James Rollie Cook, the son of Elza Sylvester and Lillie Ann (Maness) Cook, was born December 22, 1922, in rural Rock Port. He attended Lone Cedar country school, north of Rock Port, Missouri.
On January 10, 1943, Rollie entered the United States Army and served his country during World War II in multiple European Theatres. He was honorably discharged on December 18, 1945.
In March 1946, Rollie was united in marriage to Kathryn Marie Noble and they became the parents of Dorothy and William. They later divorced. On August 13, 1955, Rollie was united in marriage to Gladys Evelyn Stevens and they became the parents of one daughter, Sheila. Following their marriage, Rollie also became the father of Evelyn’s three daughters, Rose, Judy and Linda. They made their home in Tarkio, Missouri, and in 1957 moved to Maryville, Missouri.
Rollie was employed by Wolf Brothers as a farm hand, then by Missouri Service on the tree trimming crew. A few years after moving to Maryville, Rollie became the mechanic for the newly named Kansas City Power and Light, retiring in 1984.
Rollie was a member of the Community of Faith Church in Maryville, then transferred membership to Assembly of God Church in Tarkio. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Evelyn passed away April 21, 2017. Rollie passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019, at Nodaway Nursing Home at the age of 96.
In addition to his parents and wife, Evelyn, Rollie was preceded in death by son, William Cook; granddaughter, Staci Leigh Ann Lee; and siblings, Howard and Harold (Buss) Cook, Betty Lininger, Dorothy Cook, Clydie Perkins and Mary Lee and George Cook. Survivors include children, Rose (Roy) Munsey, Rock Port, Judy (Richard) Woody, Tarkio, Dorothy Benson, St. Joseph, Missouri, Linda (Danny) Pankau, Jameson, Missouri, and Sheila Wilson, Springfield, Missouri; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Irene Turner, St. Joseph, and Shirley Driskell, Claycomo, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Assembly of God Church, Tarkio. Interment will be at Home Cemetery, Tarkio. Open visitation begins at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Thursday, at the church.
Memorials may be directed to Assembly of God Church or American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
