Dot Reed

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Dorothy (Dot) Colleen (Reed) Cook passed away at 94 years of age on Saturday, February 4, 2023. Dorothy (Dot) was born on October 18, 1928, in Carthage, MO, to Louis and Margie Reed. 

Dot grew up in Carthage with her twin sister, Doris, and graduated from Carthage High School. Dot met a sailor, Carl Roger Cook, and after a short courtship, they were married on November 16, 1946, in Columbus, Kansas. 

Dot and Roger worked hard raising their family of five children. Gary Cook and wife Cindy of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Karla Brane of Neosho, Missouri; Cathy Shadwick and husband Reggie of Neosho, Missouri; Greg Cook and Wife Kimmie of Neosho, Missouri and Angie Smith and husband David of Battlefield, Missouri. Dot has 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson on the way. Dot is survived by her sister-in-law's, Edith Garland of Rogers, Arkansas; Grace Smith of Boston, Massachusetts; Mary Reed of Claremore, Oklahoma and a brother and sister-in-law Jim and Barbara Allan of Joplin, Missouri, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dot is preceded in death by her husband, Carl Roger; her parents, Louis and Margie Reed; her siblings Doris Youngblood, Bert Reed, and Michael Reed; her son-in-law Ken Brane; and two great-grandchildren, Dalton Brane and Millie Shadwick. 

Dot was a born-again Christian and instilled Christian values in her children. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church in Joplin, Diamond Baptist Church, Bible Baptist Temple, and later Oak Ridge Baptist in Neosho. Dorothy writes of how shy she was as a girl, but she sang beautifully and sang in the choir at school. 

During her short but intense illness, she sang hymns remembering every word. Dot was a meticulous housekeeper and tended to every need of her husband and children. Dot loved kids! So many families were blessed by "Dot" as their babysitter. She loved to tell the stories of the children, and so many of the children have stories of her. 

In their retirement years, Dot and Roger loved to travel south for the winter and stayed mobile for six months of the year for 11 years. The rest of the year, they enjoyed ballgames, family gatherings, and working on their property, "Cook Haven." Dot loved playing cards, especially "Crazy Rummy."

Many hours were spent playing Bingo, but she would try any game. This past Thanksgiving, she learned "exploding kittens." Not a day will pass that her children, grandchildren, and extended family won't think of her life and the legacy of caring and faith she left them. Dot has finished the race with dignity and grace.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri. Gerald Griffin will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Ozark Memorial Cemetery in Joplin, Mo. Contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House c/o Clark Funeral Home PO Box. 66 Neosho, MO 64850.