Bill F. Cook

Bill F. Cook was born on July 7, 1935 in Dyersburg, Tennessee to Kathryn L. Eskridge and Fred H. Cook. Bill graduated from Dyersburg High School in 1953 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957 from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he played football. Bill was a star athlete in high school and college. He was voted “best blocking back” in the Triple A Division while at Dyersburg High School and elected Carnicus King at UT Martin based on his athletic prowess. As part of the Carnicus Exhibition, he thrilled the crowd by walking up a ladder on his hands.

His plans to be a farmer changed when he was recruited by Southwestern Company to sell Bibles, where he discovered a knack for sales. Bill was an outstanding businessman and was President and CEO of Nasco, Inc. when he moved the plant to Springfield, Tennessee in 1965. Under his leadership, the company soon became one of the leading school fundraising corporations in the nation and the largest manufacturer of school bags and jackets in the country. Nasco employed more than 400 people at its home plant in Springfield and more than 500 managers and sales representatives nationwide. Nasco was one of the few companies to hold an NFL product license and also held product licenses with the NBA, MLB and the NHL.

In addition, Bill F. Cook was a founding member of Clayton Associates and Capstone Business Advisors, LLC where he was instrumental in helping to start and nurture numerous other businesses. Despite his incredible business success, Bill took most pleasure in mentoring others, and made an indelible, positive impact on all of those whom he took under his wing.

Bill F. Cook married Lanie Preis Cook on February 14, 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. He and Lanie were married for 35 years and shared a love of dancing, boating, traveling, and vacationing in Cabo, Mexico. They were deeply devoted to one another and shared a very rich and loving life together.

Bill F. Cook is preceded in death by his father, Fred H. Cook, and mother Kathryn Eskridge Cook, grandparents, John M. Eskridge and Nora G. Kirtley, and William H. Cook, Jr. and Mollie Parrott.

Bill F. Cook will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, brother, son, great grandfather, grandfather, uncle, friend and mentor. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Lanie Cook, his children Kay (Mark) Kimbrough, Keith (Joan) Cook, Karen (Brian) Vingelen and Julie Doochin; his sisters, Judy (Jerry) Allen and Kathryn Ann (Morris) Skurko; his grandchildren, Keith (Megan) Cook, Jr., Logan (Joanna) and Jane Claire Kimbrough, Owen and Sari Shaffer, and Jackson and Luke Vingelen, and great-grandchildren, Stella, Ruby and Georgia Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews and close friends.

Visitation will be held at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, December 24, 2018 from 9:30-11:00 AM.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 24, 2018 at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom at 5015 Harding Road in Nashville with Rabbi Mark Shiftan officiating. Burial will follow at The Temple Cemetery located at 2001 15th Ave N., Nashville, TN 37208. Arrangements are by Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Allen, Keith Cook, Keith Cook Jr., Derek Pierce, Mark Kimbrough, Logan Kimbrough, Brian Vingelen and Barry Zeitlin.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Haley, Chris Kyriopoulos, Dick Moore, Steve Bogacki, Frank Riddick, Kris Thurman, Todd Zeitlin, Garry Zeitlin, Morris Skurko, Winfield Wilkins, Wayne Jones, Jim Dunn, Rich Miles, Chuck Howell, Steve Geringer, Mark Vandiver, Tate Rogers, Tom Hendrix, James Fishel, and Tommy Petty.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Alive Hospice, On The Go Ministries, and The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom.

The family of Bill F. Cook wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Hyatt Sutton, Dr. David Spigel, Amy Irvin, Mariah Neff, Angelia Payne, Kris Paulk, Deanna Moore, and Alive Hospice.