Services held today for Jim Cookerly, 154th victim of the Joplin Tornado

(The following obituary is taken from the Parker Mortuary website.)

James V. “Jim” Cookerly, age 49, Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 2:52 a.m. at Joplin Health and Rehabilitation Center.


Jim was born July 6, 1961 in Carthage, Missouri, son of the late Eugene James Cookerly and Elizabeth Fay Smith Cookerly. He graduated from Grove High School, and attended NEO Votech for two years before beginning his career in HVAC. He worked in Grove, Oklahoma City, and Joplin. He had lived in McDonald County for the past 12 years before moving to Joplin a year ago.

Survivors include his wife, MaryBeth Wilson Cookerly whom he married January 24, 1998 in Joplin; daughter, Amanda Werner and husband Brian of Seneca, Missouri; son, Carl Cookerly of Grove, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jake, Kyle, and Brianna; sisters, Karyl Conard and husband Robert of Wichita, Kansas, Debi Sparks of Joplin, April Parcher and husband Roy of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Denise Kramme and husband Dave of Carl Junction, Missouri; several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services were held Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Fir Road Christian Church with Pastor Dan Toney officiating. Inurnment will occur at a later date in Price Cemetery.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.