Former Festus Mayor Earl Cook, 80, died early this morning at his Festus home, following a long battle with cancer.
“We have lost a great asset,” current Mayor Sam Richards said. “He was a pillar of this community, a great man and a former Marine, which meant he and I had a special bond.”
Mr. Cook served seven years on the Festus City Council, representing Ward 1, and he was appointed mayor in January 2009 after Gene Doyle resigned. Cook served as mayor until the April 2010 election, when he was defeated by Mike Cage.
Mr. Cook was retired from the Dow Chemical Co. and was a member of several civic and charitable organizations, including the Festus Tourism Commission, the Cultural Diversity Committee and Giving Something Back to the Community. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Abbas-Cook, and their blended family of seven children, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, as well as numerous extended family members and friends.
“He was a civic-minded person, and we’re all grieving his loss,” Richards said. “The flags are at half mast at City Hall on his behalf. He was such a gentleman. I can’t say enough.”
A drive-by memorial procession is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2020, at Mahn Twin City Chapel, 515 Collins Drive, in Festus. Arrangements are under the direction of Mahn Twin City Chapel.