Willy "Ray" Cook

Willy “Ray” Cook, of Des Moines, passed away peacefully at his home with his family beside him on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, following a lengthy battle with heart disease. Ray was born on March 2, 1948 in rural Henderson, KY. to Anna Belle (Staples) and Andrew Arthur Cook.

Ray lived most of his life in the Des Moines area. He retired from Link Associates as a bus driver. He previously worked at Mercy Medical Center and Methodist Hospital in the laundry department. Ray also was a driver for DM Auto Auction and Action Services. Ray’s greatest joy was caring for his clients at Link Associates. He was a Pentecostal Christian and was active in his church as a bus driver picking up those without transportation. Ray was a very caring man who only saw the good in people.

Ray is survived by his wife, Rebecca Bayles-Cook; daughters, Anna Cook, Mercy (Omer) Okic, Mary (Fernando) Avila and Stormie (Ryan) Hegre; his grandchildren, Laura Moreno Damas, Nathaniel (Krystal) McCann, Nicholas McCann, Fernando Avila, Jr., Soloman Bayles- Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts, Gabriel San Elias, Yvonne San Elias, Anthony Sebern, Braeden Sebern, Juaquin Avila; great-grandchildren, Blake, Alana and Arianna Hegre; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Jovany and David Damas, Analia Valadez, Esperanza Avila and Kdon McCann; sisters, Mona Rideout and Nancy (Michael) Rivera; brothers, William (Johnnie Mae) Cook, Ed Cook and Roger Cook; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and loving friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street. Family will greet friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

On-line condolences may be expressed at
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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