Gail Cooks

Gail Cooks, the daughter of Clarence and Louise Phillips Cooks, Sr., was born on July 28, 1966, and was called home to be with our Lord on July 23, 2022.  

Growing up in Brooksville, Oklahoma, Gail attended Macomb Public Schools where she achieved All-state status in Girls’ Basketball and Track. Following her high school graduation, she attended and graduated from Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma. At Connors, she was a valued member of the women’s basketball team, a lightning-rod player on the 1985 National Championship basketball team and a two-time inductee into the Connors Hall of Fame. Gail then matriculated at Oklahoma State University.

After college, she put her degree to good use, working in various capacities at the Head Start Program in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and ending her career at Macomb Public Schools in 2017, impacting many people along the way.

Selfless and always willing to help others, this single mom of four still found ways to open her arms to many others. Although she could be a consummate jokester who smiled even during hard times, she was fortified by the love she shared with her family as well as by helping the younger generations to grow and strive to be their best.  With everything on her plate, this amazing woman found time for reading, traveling and gathering around with friends to have a good time.

Gail’s mother, Louise Cooks, and brother, Dennis Cooks, passed on before her.  

She will be sorely missed and her memory forever will be cherished by her father, Clarence Cooks, Sr.; her children (her lovlies): Nikki Moon, Chelsea Russell (Jacob), Jamie Childress (Duane, III), De’Neisha Moon (Tylor Whittet); her siblings: Clarence Cooks, Jr. (Beverly), Chuck Cooks (Barbara), Tracy Cooks, Tammy (T. L.) Flatt and Bob Flatt; her grandchildren (her junior lovlies): Mariah Carolina, Traceton Childress, K. J. Allen, Fisher Childress, Laniya Moon, Gavin Russell, Madison Childress, Isabella Allen, Miah Russell, Cameron Whittet, Jerric Carolina, Walker Russell, Sterling Allen, Zayden Whittet, Alexandria Childress, Jamison Childress, Kalani Whittet, and Jayvian Carolina; nieces and nephews: Shauna Cooper, Shannon Cooper, Shawn and Jamie Carolina, Brittnee and Ikeda Allen Sr., Kanisha Cooks, Charles Cooks, T. J. Cooks and Jacob McAlester; other family members: Margie and James Sumlin, Sr., LaDell Phillips, Stacy Carthen, A. D. Sumlin, Denise McDade and countless other family members and friends. 

Visitation will be from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m., Friday, July 29, 2022 at Cooper Funeral Home.  Service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Macomb High School Gym with Stacy Carthen officiating. Burial will follow at Brooksville Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. Please join the celebration of Gail’s life through Cooper Funeral Home’s Facebook page for live streaming of the service.