Will Cook

(From Clark Funeral Home)

William ‘Will’ R. Cook was born on July 27, 1969, in Smithville, Missouri and entered into rest on May 2, 2024, in Joplin, Missouri at the age of 54. 

Will was a graduate of Seneca High School, class of 1988, continuing his education at the University of Missouri, Columbia, earning a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance and business administration. While attending school in Columbia, he worked at Boone County National Bank. 

After graduation from University of Missouri, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri and worked at Boatmen’s Bank and Nation’s Bank. He then returned to the Seneca area and worked at Arvest Bank in Carthage, Hometown Bank, Neosho, Mid Missouri Bank in Joplin and currently as President of First Community Bank in Neosho. 

Will was community minded and was a member of the Neosho Lions Club, Business and Industry Foundation, Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, former member of Crowder College Foundation, former Seneca school board member and was always willing to serve his community by helping others. 

Will played football while at the University of Missouri and later enjoyed coaching his children in baseball, basketball, softball, and pee wee football. He had a strong, but respectful opinion; good character and would do anything to help others. He especially enjoyed being with his family and his granddaughter, Tatum. He was a member of the Neosho United Methodist Church. 

On May 22, 1993, at the Seneca Methodist Church, he married his high school sweetheart, Lori Keeling. He is survived by his wife, Lori, two children, Courtney Vlasin and husband, Lathan and Alex Cook and fiancé, Brooklyn Friend, all of Seneca; granddaughter, Tatum Vlasin; his father, Greg Cook and wife, Janie of Seneca: his mother, Georgia Turner of Joplin; three sisters, Markie Rankin and husband, David of Leawood, Kansas, Deanie Cook of Overland Park, Kansas and Jamie Schauer and husband, Ryan of Seneca; his mother-in-law, JoAnn Keeling of Seneca; brother-in-law, Greg Keeling and wife, BJ of Joplin and numerous nieces, nephews and other family. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 1 pm at the Calvary Baptist Church in Neosho. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 6, 2024, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Calvary Baptist. Private interment will follow the funeral service on Tuesday and those honoring Will as pallbearers will be Alex Cook, Lathan Vlasin, Greg Keeling, Derek Keeling, David Rankin and Will Rankin.

Contributions in memory of Will may be made to the Neosho Lions, PO Box 143, Neosho, Missouri 64850.