Lewis L. "Bud" Cook

Topeka First United Methodist Church member, Lewis L. “Bud” Cook, 90, of Topeka, KS, passed while receiving hospice services on April 18, 2024. 

He was born on April 25, 1933, in Albuquerque, NM, the son of Ray E. Cook and Grace L. (Shaffer) Cook-Norris. It was in Albuquerque where Bud lived the greater parts of his formative and adolescent years. 

Following World War II, he moved with his parents to live on his maternal, family farm near Meriden, KS. Several prior summers had been spent living on this farm with his grandparents. He graduated from Meriden Rural High School, Meriden, KS, in 1951. A football scholarship to the University of New Mexico took him back to Albuquerque, NM, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956 and he was a running back on the University of New Mexico Football Hall of Honor team of 1952. 

While attending the University of New Mexico, Bud met his future wife, M. Bernice “Neece” Love. The couple married on June 4, 1957, and began their family. Bud furthered his education by taking summer session classes at Colorado State College in Greeley, CO (now the University of Northern Colorado) during the summers of 1957-1959. He obtained a Master of Arts in 1959 while, in the same timeframe, teaching and coaching for the Albuquerque public school system during regular (fall, spring) school year sessions. Overall, Bud taught and coached in Albuquerque from 1956 to 1968. 

During July of 1968, Bud and Neece moved to his maternal family farm, again, near Meriden, KS, to raise their family and live for the following 53 years. He became a teacher and coach for USD 345 (Seaman) in 1968; subsequently, becoming a principal within the district and serving in this capacity for the second half of his career in education. During his professional career, Bud also served several years on the Board of Education for USD 340 (Jefferson West). He retired from education in 1983; thereafter, spending his energy and time on the farm.

Bud is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Neece Cook of Topeka, KS; his sons and daughter, Ray (Lisa) Cook of Effingham, KS, Buddy Cook of Stuart, FL/Topeka, KS, and Kathy Campbell of Lakeland, FL. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Mahlon (Beverly) Love of Cedar Crest, NM; sister-in-law, Margery (Greg) Harrop of Davie, FL; four grandsons, Ray (Amber) Cook, Jr., Ben (Brenna) Cook, Hunter Campbell, and Peyton Campbell; two granddaughters, Laken Campbell and Ava Campbell; and five great-grandsons, along with multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Bud was a member of the North Topeka Sunrise Optimist Club and the First United Methodist Church in Topeka. He was an avid reader who also enjoyed golf, boating, fishing, hunting, water skiing and dancing while remaining a football enthusiast closely following division I college football and the NFL.

Cremation will occur and services will be held Friday, May 3, 2024, at Parker Price & Davidson at 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka, KS 66608 with Rev. Bradley Wheeler officiating. Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM, followed by the funeral at 2:00 PM. Interment of cremains will occur on a subsequent date. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations are gifted to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.