About Our Co-Founder, Shirley Cook
In Loving Memory of Shirley Ann Cook (1937–2025)
A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and co-founder whose quiet strength and steadfast support helped shape Central States Industrial.
Shirley’s Story
Shirley Stevenson Cook’s life was one marked by family, encouragement, and a generous spirit. Born in 1937 in Moniteau County, Missouri, she grew up in a close-knit community surrounded by faith, family, and friends. She graduated from California (MO) High School in 1955 and, the following year, married her high school sweetheart, James “Jim” Cook. The two began their married life in Southern California while Jim served in the Marine Corps. From the very beginning, Shirley was Jim’s partner in every sense, trusting him, encouraging him, and helping lay the foundation for the family they would raise together.
Mark, Beth, and Steve would later describe their mom as someone who created a warm home filled with great meals, music, and care. Shirley taught her children by example, showing them what it meant to put family first while living with quiet but unmistakable strength. Those who knew Shirley personally remember her caring nature and genuine interest in others. She took joy in hearing about people’s families and made a point to stay connected with the lives around her. Her kindness extended beyond home and work; she volunteered with children at Hickory Hills Elementary School, where her warmth and patience left a lasting impression.
Building a Family and a Company
When Jim and Shirley launched Central States Industrial in 1977, Shirley was right beside him. She left her job at Belair School in 1981 to travel with Jim, manage the company’s bookkeeping, and keep things organized as the business grew. In those early years, she truly did it all: answering phones, processing orders, handling payroll and invoicing, and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. Beyond the paperwork, she was often on the road with Jim, providing meals, hospitality, and encouragement to employees who were away from home.
Her steady presence and attention to detail helped shape CSI’s early culture. Employees recall her as dependable and caring, someone who noticed what people needed and quietly made things better. Whether ensuring there was hot water in the shop for employees at lunchtime, greeting everyone with a smile, or sending a handwritten birthday card to every employee and their family member, Shirley’s thoughtful gestures created a lasting sense of belonging. These personal touches reflected how deeply she valued the people who helped build CSI and the families who supported them.
In 1984, she and Jim made the decision to relocate CSI from Jefferson City to Springfield, not only to be closer to much of the work but also to make sure employees could be home with their families each night. That move reflected Shirley’s belief that work should never come at the expense of family. Her influence extended well beyond the early years. Even after Jim retired in 1999, Shirley remained connected, continuing to encourage, pray for, and check in on those who had become part of the CSI family. Her dependability and kindness left an impression on everyone who worked with her and helped lay the foundation for the culture CSI continues to uphold today.
Her Legacy
Shirley’s story is one of steady encouragement, care for others, and love for family. She helped shape the culture of CSI not by leading from the front, but by building a foundation of compassion, support, and integrity that continues to guide the company today.
Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren, in the friendships she nurtured, and in the employees she encouraged. It is felt in the way CSI continues to honor the values she embodied putting people first, keeping family at the center, and supporting one another through every season of life.