Obituary for Wanda Louise Cooksey
Wanda Louise Burris Neumann Cooksey, 80 years young, of Atkins, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2021 surrounded by the love of family after an unforeseen battle with kidney failure and underlying conditions from multiple myeloma.
She was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on April 22, 1941 then moved after high school as a strikingly beautiful woman, to St. Petersburg, Florida where she met and fell in love with Edward W. Neumann Sr. After dating a time, they were married and then two children later, Wanda & Edward & family moved back to Little Rock, Arkansas in the early 60’s where she had 2 more children. After raising her children and being room mother in many classrooms with four children, Wanda moved to Atkins and purchased a restaurant, The Loner Drive In, which she ran for 20 years. With all the changes early into her move, she then met and married Bervin “Bird” Cooksey, and she had her 5th child. Atkins is where she still called home, enjoyed family & friends, drives through the country, and helping others. She was a member of the Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Atkins with Bro. Eddie Rogers, pastor.
Wanda is survived by 5 children, Melinda (Henry) Fortenberry of Mayflower, Ed Neumann Jr. of Atkins, Lynn (Charlie) Failla of Conway, Beth (David) Lee of Atkins, and Ashley Cooksey of Conway; grandchildren Christy Neumann, John (Ashley) Failla, Russell (Brittany) Autry, Heather (Cody) Ennis, Hannah Friedl, Brandt Crouch, and Rhianna Crouch; great-grandchildren Addie Harris, Gus Harris, Allee Autry, J.B. Failla, Xander Kinard, Zoe Failla, Kasen Edwards, and Kennedy Grace Ennis, and her former husband, Edward W. Neumann Sr. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband Bervin “Bird” Cooksey, her parents, George “Wash” Washington Burris Jr. & A. Louise Herrington Burris, two sisters Mary Ann Rutherford and Jean Lensing, and a brother, William F. (Bill) Burris.
Mom loved gardening, and her Iris bulbs were something she really enjoyed sharing with others. She accomplished many things in her life and her greatest one was becoming a mom. She shared this joy of life with two great high school friends that still called on her today, Ms. Frankie Smith and Mrs. Linda Pierce. She served as room mother, band transportation mother, and enjoyed helping any neighborhood child as if they were her own. She loved sewing, going to church, helping others, and just sitting down to have a cup of coffee and talk with friends, and let’s not forget her love for her cats Bob, BB, Ma, Camo, and Red. Mom had several jobs throughout her life and some were challenging but she tackled each one and carried through to the end with pride and much self-rewards and accomplishments. She worked at the S & H Green Stamp Store, local LR Dairy Bar, and The Dixie Shop Dress Shop, all before purchasing the Loner Drive In in December 1977 and opening in January 1978. Mom ran the Loner Drive In until she retired and then rented the building for various small businesses so that they too could have the same opportunity that she successfully finished. She worked part-time during her retirement days at Pizza Pro before becoming a full time homemaker, mom and nana.
A memorial will be held at Lemley Funeral Home in Atkins AR on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 1 p.m. officiated by Bro. Eddie Rogers. We are honoring Wanda with contributions to the church she dearly loved, Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Atkins AR, or to Companions Spay & Neuter Clinic in Greenbrier AR for her love for animals.
A private burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia alongside her parents officiated by Bro. David Bishop.
Online Obituary and condolences are available at
www.lemleyfuneral.com
She was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on April 22, 1941 then moved after high school as a strikingly beautiful woman, to St. Petersburg, Florida where she met and fell in love with Edward W. Neumann Sr. After dating a time, they were married and then two children later, Wanda & Edward & family moved back to Little Rock, Arkansas in the early 60’s where she had 2 more children. After raising her children and being room mother in many classrooms with four children, Wanda moved to Atkins and purchased a restaurant, The Loner Drive In, which she ran for 20 years. With all the changes early into her move, she then met and married Bervin “Bird” Cooksey, and she had her 5th child. Atkins is where she still called home, enjoyed family & friends, drives through the country, and helping others. She was a member of the Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Atkins with Bro. Eddie Rogers, pastor.
Wanda is survived by 5 children, Melinda (Henry) Fortenberry of Mayflower, Ed Neumann Jr. of Atkins, Lynn (Charlie) Failla of Conway, Beth (David) Lee of Atkins, and Ashley Cooksey of Conway; grandchildren Christy Neumann, John (Ashley) Failla, Russell (Brittany) Autry, Heather (Cody) Ennis, Hannah Friedl, Brandt Crouch, and Rhianna Crouch; great-grandchildren Addie Harris, Gus Harris, Allee Autry, J.B. Failla, Xander Kinard, Zoe Failla, Kasen Edwards, and Kennedy Grace Ennis, and her former husband, Edward W. Neumann Sr. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband Bervin “Bird” Cooksey, her parents, George “Wash” Washington Burris Jr. & A. Louise Herrington Burris, two sisters Mary Ann Rutherford and Jean Lensing, and a brother, William F. (Bill) Burris.
Mom loved gardening, and her Iris bulbs were something she really enjoyed sharing with others. She accomplished many things in her life and her greatest one was becoming a mom. She shared this joy of life with two great high school friends that still called on her today, Ms. Frankie Smith and Mrs. Linda Pierce. She served as room mother, band transportation mother, and enjoyed helping any neighborhood child as if they were her own. She loved sewing, going to church, helping others, and just sitting down to have a cup of coffee and talk with friends, and let’s not forget her love for her cats Bob, BB, Ma, Camo, and Red. Mom had several jobs throughout her life and some were challenging but she tackled each one and carried through to the end with pride and much self-rewards and accomplishments. She worked at the S & H Green Stamp Store, local LR Dairy Bar, and The Dixie Shop Dress Shop, all before purchasing the Loner Drive In in December 1977 and opening in January 1978. Mom ran the Loner Drive In until she retired and then rented the building for various small businesses so that they too could have the same opportunity that she successfully finished. She worked part-time during her retirement days at Pizza Pro before becoming a full time homemaker, mom and nana.
A memorial will be held at Lemley Funeral Home in Atkins AR on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 1 p.m. officiated by Bro. Eddie Rogers. We are honoring Wanda with contributions to the church she dearly loved, Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Atkins AR, or to Companions Spay & Neuter Clinic in Greenbrier AR for her love for animals.
A private burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia alongside her parents officiated by Bro. David Bishop.
Online Obituary and condolences are available at
www.lemleyfuneral.com