Gary Cook, 76 of Parsons, passed away at 2:01 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
He was born on Dec. 15, 1949, in Oswego, to Dale H. and Joann (Merwarth) Cook. Gary grew up in Oswego and attended Oak Grove School, a one-room school, for eight years. He then attended and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1967 where he was voted as the wittiest person in class.
Gary was a truck driver for several companies and had worked for Charloma for over 20 years as a driver.
He loved making people laugh and always had a joke to tell. Gary knew no stranger. He participated in demolition derbies for close to 20 years and enjoyed raising hell. His sense of humor is something that will definitely be missed by many.
Survivors include his sons, Jeremy Cook (Ashley) of Pratt, Waylon Cook of Oklahoma and Anthony Cook (Nicole) of Emporia; several grandchildren, one great-grandson, one niece and one nephew; brother, Jim Cook (Nancy) of Oswego and his children, Courtney Cook and Holly Shepard (Jared); sister, Marsha Collins (Randy) of Oswego and their son, Colby Collins; aunt Jane Lewis (Bob) of Desert Hot Springs, Caifornia; his companion, Peggy Karhoff of Parsons and her family, Misty Almond, Brittany Merrick, Jared and Brayzen Smethwick, or “Bro” as he and Gary would say, and Bob and Debbie Good.
“To all you good people,” as Gary would always say. The family will host a celebration of life at Parsons Foursquare Church Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m.
As most who knew him know, Gary was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan so the family is encouraging everyone to wear their Chiefs apparel for Gary.
Memorials are suggested to Parsons Foursquare Church and may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.
