Sherry Cooksey, 65, passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022, surrounded by family members.
She was born March 24, 1957, in Louisiana, Missouri, to Robert and Nina (Bent) Peden and was raised in Bowling Green, Missouri. Sherry graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1975, and in 1979 she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Northeast Missouri State University. On September 4th, 1983, she married Jim Cooksey in Moberly, Missouri, where they resided together until her death.
Sherry’s career began as a nurse in 1979 at Kirksville Osteopathic Hospital, and in the summer of 1981, she moved to Moberly and became a floor charge nurse at Moberly Regional Medical Center (MRMC). In conjunction with this employment, she started her teaching career as an Adjunct Professor at Moberly Area Community College. During this time in 1985, along with Cindy Lucas, they began through MRMC the 1st Safe Sitters program in the State of Missouri, having attained certification in Indianapolis. Through this program, they taught groups of middle and high students the safe techniques of childcare responsibilities. In January of 1987 she assumed the leadership of the Moberly Area Technical Center’s (MATC) new Health Occupations Program teaching advanced health related classes and leading students out into the medical work field for practical experience in healthcare industries. For many years she served as the area Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) instructor and was a CPR instructor. She continued her career with MATC until her retirement in May of 2017.
In 1983, having transferred her membership from the 1st Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green, she joined the Coates Street Presbyterian Church of Moberly and served many years as Sunday School Teacher and worked with Vacation Bible School in the summers. She was a member and past President of the local Laureate Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and past member of the local chapter of the P.E.O. Sherry loved her two children immensely and enjoyed following their soccer teams from grade school through high school all over the state. She was an avid reader and enjoyed counted cross-stitching, traveling to various parts of the country with her family and spending time with them at Holiday Acres. She continued following the St. Louis Cardinals
throughout her life, and after marriage, becoming a Missouri Tiger sports fan of all teams.
Sherry is survived by her Husband of 39 years, Jim Cooksey; two children, son, Garreth Cooksey of Hannibal, MO, daughter, Shaylyn McCollough and her husband Eric and granddaughter, Hazel McCollough of Columbia, MO. She is also survived by sisters Marcia Tepen and her husband Bob of Bowling Green, MO, and Laura Ledbetter and her husband Jeff of Grove City, OH, brother-in-law, Bob Cooksey (Cindy Kinser) Slidell, LA, mother-in-law, Jo Ann Cooksey, Moberly, MO, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers please consider memorial donations to the MACC Foundation, Coates Street Presbyterian Church, or the 1st Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green, MO. 

A funeral service honoring and celebrating Sherry’s life was held at the Coates Street Presbyterian Church, Moberly. A Visitation was held at the Cater Funeral Home.