James Raymond Cook

In Memory of Jim Cook

James Cook passed away peacefully on August 15, 2026, in Melbourne, Florida, where he and his wife of almost 61 years, Jean, had made their home since moving there in 2020.

Jim was surrounded by the people he dearly loved and was so very proud of—his children, Dan, Phil, and Amy; his son-in-law and beloved son in our family, Walt; his granddaughter, Eden; his sister, Jane Crowley; Todd Garner, a truly special family friend who he considered an adopted son; and his deeply cherished wife, Jean. They were all with him and saw him through the final days of his illness.

There were many, many tears shed, but ultimately, they were tears of joy. Jim is no longer in pain. He can hear, talk, and walk again—all the things he had been unable to do in recent years. Jim was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, on March 3, 1942, to Raymond and Jaunita Cook. He lived in Jacksonville for many years before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he graduated from Stranahan High School. His parents and his younger sister, Sandy, his brothers in law Ron Lovett and Bob Crowley and, nephew Larry preceded him in death.

Jim eventually returned to Jacksonville, where he became a firefighter, a job he truly loved. After nine years with the fire department, he began a new chapter by starting his own company in 1972 and becoming a general contractor. During his career, he built more than 600 homes and apartments in central Illinois. Always learning, always growing, and always looking for new opportunities, Jim also became a real estate developer, developing countless properties in both Morgan County, Illinois, and Florida.

But as impressive as Jim’s professional accomplishments were, they were not what defined him. After accepting Jesus as his Savior, Jim and Jean became deeply involved in their church, Westfair Baptist. Jim put his talents, hard work, and determination to use there as well, building Westfair Christian Academy in 1974 and the school gym in 1981.

His faith was the most important part of his life. It was the foundation of everything he accomplished and the legacy he leaves behind. What began as a dream shared by Jim, his pastor, and a small group of individuals who were willing to take a leap of faith and trust God, has become a lasting legacy. From that school have come countless successful individuals who carry forward the legacy that was once only a dream. Jim understood that an investment in a person's life can have an eternal impact, and because of that, he believed it was a dream worth building and he was incredibly proud of what this small school has accomplished since its’ inception in 1974.Of all the things Jim accomplished in his lifetime, what made him most proud was being a Christian, being Jean’s husband, being a dad to Dan, Phil, and Amy, being a grandfather to his eight grandchildren, and being a great-grandfather to his five much-loved great grandchildren. His love literally knew no bounds.

If you were blessed enough to be loved by Jim, you knew he would move heaven and earth to be there for you. That was simply who he was. He loved deeply, gave generously, worked tirelessly, and cared about the people God had placed in his life. We believe God had a special calling on Jim’s life, and he fulfilled that calling to the very end—with all his might, all his strength, and to the fullest capacity of his ability. Those of us who knew him stand amazed at all he accomplished in his lifetime. But even more than the buildings he constructed, the businesses he built, or the properties he developed, Jim’s greatest accomplishment was the lives he touched.

He built things that will stand for generations, but his greatest legacy is found in the people he loved and the people he poured himself into.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to know him will spend the rest of our lives hoping to make him proud by carrying forward the legacy he so faithfully poured into us.

A book could be written about Jim’s life, and perhaps someday it will be. There will also be much more to come online through Airsman Hires. But no words could ever fully capture the life of a man who meant so much to so many.

His family and all who knew him will remember Jim as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, family member, and friend—a man whose life touched countless others.

He will be deeply missed. But we take comfort in knowing that he is no longer suffering. He has finally been made whole again.

We lost Jim here on earth, but Heaven gained a wonderful, loving man. And those of us he left behind, still stand amazed that we had the privilege to know him and love him. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Westfair Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Illinois or the Tunnels to Tower Foundation.