Ben "Dude" Cook (Seymour)'s Obituary
Benjamin Franklin Cook, Jr. son of Benjamin Franklin Cook Sr. and Freda Shields Cook, was born September 13, 1941, in Seymour, Missouri, and departed this life Friday, July 23, 2021, in his daughter’s home near Seymour at the age of seventy-nine years, ten months and ten days.
On December 8, 1968, he was united in marriage to Barsha Lou Ragsdale and to this union four children were born. Barsha preceded him in death on September 11, 2014. He was also preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Jean Bowers, Anita Hill Kelley, and Freda Corner, two brothers, Fred Cook and Elston “Buddy” Cook. Dude is survived three daughters, Beth Joyce and Kevin Knifong of Diggins, Becky Cook and Deborah Cook of Diggins, and B.J. Kissinger and Beau of Seymour; a son, Bo Cook of Diggins; eight grandchildren, Heather Thomas and Zach, Whitney Joyce and Chris Ipock, Travis Knifong, Ashley Wake and Dustin, Brittany Akers and Kreg, Bella Jo Kissinger, Bailey Cook, and Bristol Cook; eleven great-grandchildren, Hunter Thomas, Riley Clark, Ayden Hintt, Mayson Akers, Maggie, Derek, and Keirsten Akers, Tinsley Collins, Bentley Knifong, Addie and Makenzie Ipock; brother, Reverend Phillip Cook of Marshfield, many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Dude made a profession of faith in Christ many years ago and had attended Harvestime Tabernacle Church in Marshfield for 30 years and currently was attending Diggins Apostolic Church. He lived all his life in the Seymour/Diggins area and attended Liberty School. He was then drafted into the United States Army where he proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. Dude, who went by the handle ‘Old Timer’, was an over the road truck driver for 55 years, retiring in 2014. In his spare time, he loved to read books, farming, work on trucks and setting on the front porch watching the tractor-trailers go by. Dude didn’t really have any hobbies but had true enjoyment of helping others. He would literally give you the last dime he had if you needed it. He was a giver to many charities including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, and foreign missions through the church, just to name a few. Dude was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle and a very caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and will cherish the many wonderful times we had together. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Diggins Apostolic Church, Diggins. Burial with military honors will follow in the Seymour Masonic Cemetery, Seymour. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday in the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Diggins Apostolic Church Building Fund and made through the funeral home.
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