Rebecca ‘Becky’ Cook Wilson, 62
Rebecca “Becky” Cook Wilson, 62, of Theodosia, died Sept. 3, 2021, at her home. A memorial service will be held later.
She was born June 17, 1959, in Dr. M. J. Hoerman’s office in Gainesville, the daughter of Bill and Nadine Cook. She grew up on Bull Shoals Lake, where her family has operated what is now Theodosia Marina Resort since 1952. She graduated from Gainesville High School in 1977.
Becky always wanted to be a nurse and started her career as a nursing assistant in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and then in Springdale, Arkansas. She was encouraged by family friend Jackie Hoff to become a nurse, and after she and her former husband and children moved back to Theodosia, she started working toward her nursing degree at what is now Missouri State University-West Plains.
For several years, she served as a first responder with the Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Department. While continuing to go to school in West Plains, she became a paramedic with Ozark County Ambulance when it was affiliated with Ozarks Medical Center. She loved that work, and when she graduated and became a registered nurse, her family was so very proud of her.
Later, she worked at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
In 2017, she moved back to Theodosia to start a new chapter of her life close to her family, but in December 2020 she developed a serious illness that eventually led to her death.
Dan Saults, an old newspaper man who was a friend and hunting buddy of Becky’s grandfather, the late L. B. Cook, read some of the poetry Becky wrote while she was in high school and said, “She marches to a different drummer.” She will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her daughter, Desiree Goberson and husband Scott, and their children, Kaylin and Kaleb, all of Neosho; her sons, W.C. Wilson and wife Mandy and their children Emma and Ashton of Protem, and Cagney Wilson and wife Mechelle of Jacksonville, Florida; her parents, Bill and Nadine Cook of Thornfield; brothers Ben Cook and wife Vikki, and Bret Cook and wife Melanie, all of Theodosia; her aunt, Barbara Wehrman of Kirbyville; her uncle, Joe Lynn Bushong and wife Beverly of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; her great-uncle, Vernon James and wife Barbara of Gainesville; and lots of nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, L. B. and Pauline Talbot Cook of Theodosia, and Doin and Ray James Bushong of Gainesville; and great-grandparents Warner and Cora Barker Bushong, and Orville and Emily Mefford James, all of Almartha; great-great-grandparents James and Aletha Amyx Bushong of Brixey, and Frank James of Almartha; and her uncle, Carl Wehrman.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lutie Cemetery fund at any branch of Century Bank of the Ozarks.
Arrangements by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.