Cheryl Renee Cook (Sayres) of Kirksville passed away peacefully with the love of family and friends around her at age 70, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

The daughter of Ercel and Mary Joy (Nicol) Sayres, she was born February 16, 1955 in Kirksville, MO.

She was preceded in death by both parents.

Cheryl is survived by her daughters, Nikki (Cook) Hines and her husband Spencer Hines, along with their children Grant and Brooklyn, of Tampa, FL, and Laci Cook, with her children Maya McKiver and Clara Russell, of Kirksville, MO. She is also survived by her brother Ronald Sayres and his wife Brenda, of Knox City, MO, and their children Derek Sayres and Marquita Sayres; and special lady Grandma Alice Cook.

Cheryl lived her early years in Knox City, MO, graduating from Knox County High School in 1973. She spent several years in St Louis, MO, but returned back to Kirksville with her girls to be closer to her family and dear friends. Cheryl started her career in motorcycle sales with Guffey Honda and Kawasaki, and worked side by side with her dear friend, Virginia Guffey for over 20 years. Here she learned the skill of superior customer service and found she had the gift of connecting with the community. When the business sold to Hatfield Kawasaki, she continued her passion of helping customers, many asking for her by name, working there until her transition to auto parts. She continued her career as a Commercial Sales Specialist at both Auto Zone and O’Reilly Auto Parts, retiring from Auto Zone in 2021. Each job proved how hardworking and resilient she was, never shying away from learning something new.

After retiring, Cheryl set out with close friends, road-tripping from places like Niagara Falls to New York City, through California, Washington DC, New Mexico, and Wyoming, all while finding time and making memorable treks to see her grandkids in Florida. Cheryl’s smile filled every mile, and she never missed a chance to share her joy throughout the community, as demonstrated by portraying Mrs. Claus around Christmas time to spread holiday cheer.

Back home, Cheryl poured energy into the Order of the Eastern Star #184, Countryside Christian Church, and the fine-arts programs she loved, especially the Kirksville High School Band. She was the parent clapping loudest at concerts and the Mom who paid to go to the sporting events, mainly to watch the band.

Funeral service will be held 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Sandy Browning officiating. Burial will follow in the Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville.

Public visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2025 in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home. An Order of the Eastern Star service will take place at the start of the visitation.

Pallbearers will be David Browing, Michael Browning, Joey Nicol, Greg Nicol, Jason Rolfe, Kevin Shepler and Derek Sayres. Honorary pallbearers will be Ellen Gray, Donna Sullivan, Ann Walker, Barb Middleton, Chris Eitel, Connie Sayres Wagner.

We will keep her favorite travel mug on the counter, play the songs she loved, and remember her encouraging notes saying, “I’m proud of you.”

A live stream of the services will be provided here at the below html.
https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/cheryl-renee-cook

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Kirksville High School Band Department (payable to Kirksville R-III; Memo Band) in Cheryl’s honor, and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.