KERMIT COOKSON

PUXICO -- Kermit E. Cookson, 57, formerly of Puxico, died Thursday, May 4, 2000, near Puxico.

He was born March 11, 1943, at Pontiac, Mich., son of Otto and Buelah Klaffer Cookson. He and Chandra Holsey were married Oct. 8, 1983, in Arlington, Va.

Cookson was a former resident of Puxico, having graduated from Puxico High School in 1961. He had served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Washington, D.C., during the Vietnam War.

He was a former school teacher and taught in Missouri and Fairfax, Va. He also was a licensed clinical social worker and had earned a master's degree in education and social work. He worked for six years at the Mount Vernon Community Health Center in Springfield, Va. He also worked in private practice for 14 years.

Survivors include his wife of Springfield, Va.; a son, Tyler Cookson of the home; a daughter, Larissa Cookson of the home; his mother, Buelah Cookson of Puxico; two brothers, Leon Cookson of Imperial and the Rev. James Cookson of Springfield, Mo.; two sisters, Shirley Martin of St. Charles and Linda Anthony of Sikeston.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. Sunday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel, with the Revs. Ray Placher, James Cookson and Dan Montgomery officiating.

A visitation will also be held Thursday at Jefferson Funeral Chapel in Alexandria, Va. Service, with full military honors, will be at Quantico National Cemetery in Quantico, Va.