John Mark Cook

John Mark Cook, 70, passed away February 15, 2022 at the UK Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.  John was residing with his wife Lana Vaughn in her hometown of Carlisle, Kentucky.  They moved to Carlisle from San Jose, California in 2010 to enjoy retirement.  John was born February 18, 1951 in San Jose to the late Arthur Cook and Vivian Shaw (Cook) Parr.  During his senior year of high school, he began an early apprenticeship program for meat cutting and hit the ground running in that career until he retired from the industry in 2008.  John was well known in the Bay Area for being a talented meat cutter as he learned from the old school of how to cut meat and make a lovely presentation with it.  His artistic ability was seen in just about everything he did.  He was an excellent artist and painted many different scenes of the West Coast and picked up with the Kentucky scenery when he arrived here.  He came from a long line of artists that included his father and his grandfather who were all from the Western area of the United States.  John’s biggest love was for classic cars (preferably fast) and was able to fulfill that dream in retirement.

John is survived by his wife and partner of 31 years, Lana Vaughn, of Carlisle; his brother Alan Cook, of Portland, Oregon; a half-sister Lara Luna, of Walnut Creek, California; 2 daughters, Alicia Cook (Jeff) Bennett, of Central Point, Oregon, and Andrea Cook, of Boulder Creek, California; and 2 granddaughters, Brittaney Bentley and Daytona Cook; along with several nieces & nephews located on the West Coast and some located in Kentucky from his wife’s family. 

In addition to his parents, Art Cook and Vivian Shaw Cook Parr, John is also preceded in death by a half-sister, Karen Parr Rasmussan. John would also appreciate a nod to his Grandfather & Grandmother Shaw of San Jose, California (deceased) as co-founders of the San Jose Bible College that is now a fully accredited University in Sacramento, CA.

In accordance with John’s wishes, no services will be held following cremation. 

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