Sterling Richard “Dick” Cook, 87, of Crystal City died Aug. 6, 2026, at his home. Mr. Cook was a graduate of Crystal City High School and the University of Missouri in Columbia. He taught and coached in the Poplar Bluff, Herculaneum and Crystal City schools. He retired from his alma mater, Crystal City, after 34 years and continued to coach track and field for another 17 years at Herculaneum. He was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crystal City and a member of Knights of Columbus 1230, Elks 1721 and the Mizzou “M” Letterman’s Club. He is a Crystal City High School Hall of Fame Honoree and was inducted into the Missouri State Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. Born Aug. 20, 1938, in Crystal City, he was the son of the late Ethel (Grant) and Sterling Cook.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years: Mary Ellen “Mimi” (Noce) Cook; four children: Mary Beth (Steve Essenmacher) Braun of Huntington Woods, Mich., Richie Cook of Crystal City, Jill Cook of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Amy Jo Cook of Festus; eight grandchildren: Travis (Anna) Braun, Kyle (Savannah) Braun, Eric Braun, Lindsey (the late Mike) Hill, Grayson (Kayla) Nelson, Lucas Breeze, Alex Breeze and Logan Loesch; three great-grandchildren: Brooks, Jane and Zelie Braun; and numerous nieces, nephews, former students and friends.
He was preceded in death by four sisters: Margaret (the late Francis) Schilly, Marjorie (the late Norville) Stackley, Naomi (the late Robert “Chops”) Lalumondier and Jeannie (the late Jim) Laiben; and a son-in-law: Jeff Braun.
Visitation is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 555 Bailey Road, in Crystal City. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to Missouri Disabled Sportsmen, c/o Jeff Roth, 22989 Coffelt Road, St. Mary, MO 63673, or at missouridisabledsportsmen.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.