Kenneth Cokely Obituary

Kenneth Cokely, 95, Liberty, MO, peacefully passed away Monday morning, May 9, 2005, at Pleasant Valley Manor. Coach was born April 27, 1910, in Grant City, MO, the son of John Jay and Gertrude Cokely. He met the love of his life, Elsa Gibson, in high school and would marry her in 1934 after graduating from Baker University. They were inseparable until her death in 2003. Ken's teaching and coaching career began in California, MO, and took them to Caledonia and Platte City before landing in Liberty, MO, in 1943. It was here in Liberty that their roots took hold; where they raised their two children and were incredibly active in the school and community. Ken was a fixture at school until his retirement in 1975. During those 32 years, he coached football, basketball, tennis, and track, taught girls PE during the war years, plus biology and drivers education; and served as athletic director. And in 1972, Liberty High School honored him with the dedication of the new gymnasium, "Cokely Fieldhouse." Although Ken had a heavy schedule with family, teaching, and coaching, he still found time to be active in the American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, Lion's Club, the Red Cross, and Liberty United Methodist Church. His good deeds earned him William Jewell's Outstanding Citizen Award in 1988, the Liberty Sertoma "Service to Mankind" award in 1991, and the Lions Club International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and probably the best coach anyone could ever have. He will be greatly missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, his son John Kenneth Cokely, his brother Harold J. Cokely, and his sister Irene Spencer. He is survived by his daughter Kaye Megown and husband Larry, Hot Springs, AR; three grandchildren, Lori Megown, New York, NY, Mike Megown, St. Louis, MO, and Robyn Hart, Jefferson City, MO; and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, May 12 at Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset, Liberty; burial in Glenridge Cemetery, Liberty. Friends may call from 1 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorial contributions can be made to the Liberty United Methodist Church or the Liberty Lions Club Ken Cokely Scholarship Fund. (Arr. Church-Archer-Pasley Funeral Home, 816-781-2000)

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Published by Kansas City Star on May 11, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Cokely

11 Entries

Disca Ann (McKown) Kovar

May 18, 2005

Kaye, So sorry about your dad. He taught a lot of people about sportsmanship, loyalty, and had the patience of Job. Always cool, calm and collected.

DANIEL LYNCH

May 17, 2005

GREAT STORY AND SOME GOOD FEATURES

DAN

Lois Henderson Beedle '60

May 12, 2005

Coach taught me to drive as he did many others. Only I got to drive backwards down every alley in Liberty.

He will be remembered by all of us Kaye. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Frankie Keen Jones '59

May 12, 2005

Kaye,

I remember your father well, and his many achievements as an all-around high school coach and teacher.

My deepest sympathy,

Scarlett Moffatt

May 12, 2005

Kaye, your father was a portrait in courage when it came to teaching his students to drive. In the middle of a turn, because a huge truck was in the opposite lane, the student threw her hands in the air and screamed, Coach just grabbed the wheel and calmly explained that this was not an acceptable technique. The common sense lessons he taught have been passed on to the generations being raised by his students. So many of us have benefited from his instructions. In almost 40 years of driving I have never received a traffic ticket or been involved in a serious accident. Credit and appreciation goes to your father's guidance which no doubt saved lives along the way.

Richard Henderson

May 11, 2005

I had Coach for Driver's Ed. I can still remember the first day of driving.

You and your family are in my thoughts.

Class of '65

Irene Jones Stankow

May 11, 2005

You're in our thoughts and prayers.

Bud Lofland

May 11, 2005

Kay & Family,

Our prayers are with you!

Coach, or sometimes known as "chrome dome" and I say that with love, as he was always known to us was truly an inspiration to me and others who encountered his teaching, coaching and life skills

encouragement.

Sharon & Don Schowengerdt

May 11, 2005

Kaye: Don and I want to extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family. "Coach" was an outstanding person and was loved and admired by so many. We both have such fond memories of our high school days as students and Sharon's memories of her days working at the high school in following years and working with "Coach" as a peer instead of a student.

Thom Weddle

May 11, 2005

Coach

You will always be remembered by many of us for the example you set during our formative high school years. You instilled a desire to succeed, however, not at any cost. The numerous successes achieved by your teams are a testament to your ability as a coach and mentor. For those of us with minimal athletic ability, you stressed the importance of effort, saying when we gave it our best shot, we were successful. Thanks for the memories.

Jim Harris

May 11, 2005

Sometimes life brings special people into our lives. Coach Cokely is that person in more lives than we can know.

Kaye, you and your family are in the thoughts and prayers of countless persons during this difficult time.

Your father will long be remembered as one of those truly "Special" people in the life of many of us.

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