Virgil Henry Cookson Jr. a longtime Jennings resident, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2020 at his home in Jennings with his family by his side at the age of 91.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 10, 2020 at Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, Ok.  Interment will follow at Sunrise Cemetery, Kellyville, Oklahoma.

Family will greet friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., January 9, 2020 at the Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, OK.

Arrangements are entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, Ok.

Virgil was born on April 22, 1928 in Puxico, Missouri to the late Virgil Henry Cookson Sr. and Ora (Patterson) Cookson.  He grew up in Puxico, graduating from Puxico High School in 1946.  After high school, he married Betty Jean Johnson, to this union Donna Jean and Paul were born.  He worked for Commando Speed Boat for a few years.   In 1958, he moved to Tulsa where he met the love of his life Ellen Bostick and married in late 1958, to this union Dusty was his bonus child and then Grady and Stan were born.  They made their home in Tulsa.  Virgil worked for the North American Rockwell in 1962, where he was Pioneer to Space Shuttle (Apollo, 747) traveling to France and Germany to set up fabricating shops.  He retired in 1988 after 26 years.   In 1985, they moved to a farm in Jennings.    After retirement, he began a successful business of restoring antique trunks.  Virgil also in his spare time, raised cattle, farmed and enjoyed the outdoors.  He was an avid fisherman, gardener and hunting… numerous hunting accomplishments.  No need to call repairman, he fixed it all.  They were members of the Seventh Day Bible Church in Tulsa.

Virgil is survived by his children Donna Jean Moss and husband Wayne of Warsaw, Missouri, Paul Cookson and wife Deborah of Shepherdson, Kentucky, Grady M. Cookson of Jennings, Dusty Cookson and Linda Lewis of Jennings, brothers  Larry Cookson and wife Judy of Puxico, Missouri and Jerry Cookson of Puxico, Missouri, sisters Syble Buttry and husband Bob of Wappapelo, Missouri, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ellen Cookson, his son Stan Cookson.