Joseph “Kelly” Cook passed away on January 30, 2026, after a lengthy battle with early onset dementia. With his face-wide smile, Kelly was known for his zest for life, his love of good food, and his commitment to his faith.
Raised in Searcy, AR, Kelly spent his youth fishing and hunting alongside his father and siblings—treasured experiences that shaped his lifelong appreciation for the outdoors, family time, and a warm honey bun during an early morning truck ride. As a young man, he loved driving at a questionable speed in his Dodge Super Bee, with Pink Floyd and Steppenwolf on the radio.
In his late teens, Kelly discovered a passion for culinary work and dedicated his career to serving others through food. He developed a particular love for Cajun cuisine while raising a family in Louisiana with his first wife, Renee, with whom he shared a life-changing love. Kelly and Renee had four children—Jennifer, Joseph, Joanna, and John. Together they spent years in Judsonia and Arkadelphia, AR, Ruston and Pineville, LA, and Stillwater, OK. Their lives were enriched as they developed deep relationships with other families through church, work, and community.
Kelly loved raising his children in Scouts, making memories with them through camping, pinewood derbies and merit badges. He was always telling stories, teaching gardening hacks, and singing as he drove on car rides. He loved his children fiercely.
Kelly was a Christian, always quick to share the love of “his” Jesus, and the latter half of his life was marked by a sincere and growing devotion to the Lord. He found love and companionship again in his second wife, Nancy, whom he cherished. They shared a passion for ministry and became known for their generosity to the needy members of their community, with whom they built friendships and gave of themselves without asking in return. When they weren’t “blowin’ and goin’,” they were restoring their home or playing with their grandkids.
Kelly’s last months were marked by a bedside vigil from Nancy and visits from all of his children and his brother. He was preceded in death by his precious wife, Cathy Renee (Tolbert) Cook; his parents Lambert and Mary Cook; his sister Elizabeth Cook Nelson, and his brother Richard Cook.
He is survived and celebrated by his beloved wife Nancy (Book) Cook; children Jennifer Cook of Searcy, AR, Joseph Cook of Providence, RI, Joanna Cook of Boston, MA, and John Cook (Shaysa) of Madison, WI; sister Tracey Western of Searcy, AR; brother Tipton Cook (Kate) of Bailey, CO; step-children Tyler Fross (Hayley) and Hayley (Fross) Gottschalk (Derek); his adored step-grandchildren Skylar, Leigha, Lily, Oliver, Clark, and Elijah; and nieces and nephews Paul, Luke, Canyon, Rosie, Elijah, Corey and Aaron.
A celebration of life will be held at New Life Church in Hays, KS on February 7, 2026.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston. LA, with interment following at Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
