Log in

Melinda Jo Cook

Posted

Melinda Jo (Bryant) Cook, 52, of Ozark, Arkansas, passed from this life on Wednesday, Dec.16 (2020) at Mercy Hospital in Ozark.  

She was born Aug. 5, 1968, in Harrison, Arkansas, to her parents, Murl Lewis and Beverly Ann (Smith) Bryant.  

Growing up in the mountains of Mt. Judea, Arkansas, Melinda Jo Cook graduated from Mt. Judea High School in 1986 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas Tech University in 1990. She married Craig Lewis Cook of Mt. Judea on June 22, 1991 and they started a life together in Ozark, where she enjoyed tending her flowers, watching school sporting events, and baking beautiful, ornate birthday cakes for their two girls. Melinda was a member of the Epsilon Upsilon chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority for 20 years, serving as the chapter’s Treasurer for more than 15 years. Melinda worked as accounting manager at SGL Carbon in Ozark from 1990 to 2017.  In 2017, Melinda became the plant controller at Baldor in Ozark and worked there until the present day.  Melinda faithfully attended Calvary Baptist Church and was grateful for all of the people who were praying for her and checking on her.

Everyone who knew her recognized that Melinda was the hardest working mother and businesswoman around. Balancing motherhood and a full-time career, she always made time for her daughters’ sporting events, school plays, and dance & band recitals.  Never one to neglect her family and friends, Melinda enjoyed worshipping at church, shopping for Christmas presents, and visiting Momma and Daddy’s house in Mt. Judea, where she spent holidays and weekends with her friends and family. She was so very loved, and words cannot express how much she will be missed.   

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, R.L. & Gertie (Holt) Bryant and Garland and Nancy (Criner) Smith; her father-in-law, Carl Louis Cook and her step-father-in-law, Gene Talbert.

She is survived by her loving husband of 29 years, Craig Lewis Cook; their beautiful children, Jayden Jo Cook and Cassandra LouAnn Cook of Ozark, Arkansas; her parents, Murl Lewis & Beverly Ann (Smith) Bryant of Mt. Judea, Arkansas; her sister, Sandra “Sandy” Ann Bryant of Conway, Arkansas; her brother-in-law, Rodney Alan Cook of Tamuing, Guam; her mother-in-law, Linda (Johnson) Cook Talbert, of Ozark; and countless other loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and family members.

Visitation was held from 6 pm.. to 8 p.m.. on Friday, Dec. 18 (2020), at Shaffer Funeral Home in Ozark, Arkansas. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 19 (2020), at the Calvary Baptist Church located at 1504 W. School Street, Ozark, Arkansas, with Jim Lane officiating.  Graveside service and burial was held later that afternoon at 3 p.m., at the Smith Cemetery in Vendor, Arkansas.  

Pallbearers were Todd Durning, Greg Grice, Mark Leding, Jim Rofkar, Dusty Middleton, Jimmy Holt, Brinkley Cook-Campbell and Scottie Smith.  

Honorary pallbearers were Rodney Alan Cook, Matt Grice, Ben Grice, Nick Grice and Mike Smith, as well as all of her coworkers and friends.   

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the school at Calvary Baptist Church in Ozark, the Ozark Area Youth Organization (OAYO) soccer program, and the drama and theater program at Ozark High School.

Online guest book: https://www.shafferfuneralhomeweb.com/



X
X