John Allen Cookingham, age 90, of Reed City, Michigan, passed away on Friday May 22, 2026. 

John, the son of Richard and Clara Cookingham, was born on January 11, 1936, in Chase, Michigan.  He graduated from Reed City in 1954 and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Squires on October 2nd, 1954.  Together they had three children and resided in Reed City until 1978 when they moved to Franklin, La, for a promotion with ANR Pipeline at the Patterson, La, facility.  They spent five years in Louisiana before moving back to Big Rapids, where he continued his thirty year career with ANR until his retirement at the end of 1995.  

After the death of Dorothy in August of 1989, John married Marilyn Glass of Grand Rapids in April of 1994.  They built a new home on the old family farm where they resided until his death.  John was right at home on the farm where his mother had grown up.  He had purchased the farm back in 1970 and had been a hobby farmer with his sons, raising black angus cattle and a few horses until the summer of 1975.  He always had a deep love for John Deere tractors and his dogs, which he had many over the years.  Lucy, his latest, will surely miss him.  After retirement he found a new hobby with flying, a two-seater powered parachute.  Many people in the area can attest to seeing him up in the sky every day flying around the Paris area.  He belonged to a club of guys out of Big Rapids, where he made many friends that enjoyed flying.  For a few years he even got back into motorcycling and made a few trips around the United States with those same flying buddies.  John had a deep faith in the Lord and was an active member of the United Methodist Church, serving as Chair on the Finance Board and a member of the Men's group.  He also served on the Mecosta County Park Board and was instrumental with Springtime in Paris at the Paris Park for many years.  

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, sister Wanda (Charles) Pion of Paris, sons, Bruce, (Charlotte) David, (Wanda) daughter, Kathy (Eric Drake); step-children, Dan (Brenda) Johnson of California, Anne (Roger) Glass of Grand Rapids area, Susan Gayan, partner Ken, Michael (Kim) Johnson of Grand Rapids area, Tia (Daniel) Hooper of Grand Rapids area; 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.  Preceding him in death were brothers Orlen, Carl, Donald and grandson Craig.  

Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery in Reed City.  A service to celebrate his life will be held in July.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society.