When the 1920 federal census was taken on Jan 2nd 1920, his family was living in a rental home located at 1901 W. Main Street. His father worked as a coal miner throughout his life and even though the Cooksey’s were a family of eight, they still managed to squeeze in a fellow coal miner who boarded in the home named Leland Jackson. The children present in the home were Nellie 12, Ella 11, Troy 9, Opal 7, Edith 4 ½, and Robert Cooksey, 7 months of age.
In 1922, the Cooksey family was living at 1406 N. Van Buren Street.
By 1935, the family had moved into another rental home at 1409 W. Cherry Street. In the 1940 census, his father, due to diminished coal mine production had begun working on streets and roads as part of a WPA work project. Bob, was working as a delivery boy and was aged 20. There was one other sibling in the home, Doris, age 14.
Cooksey was married to Lillian May McGinness at Jackson, Missouri on March 8, 1942. Lilly was born on January 29, 1924.
Bob was a game warden for the State of Illinois for 12 years, a Williamson County deputy sheriff, a policeman and fireman for the City of Marion.
From 1951 to 1955, Cooksey served as Commissioner of Streets and Alleys for the City of Marion under Mayor William Shannon.
In 1955, Bob Cooksey was elected Mayor and was re-elected again in 1959, serving two terms.
When the 1963 election rolled around he faced off with Robert L. Butler and lost by a margin of about 650 votes. He attempted to oust Butler in 1967 but was rebuffed by about the same margin as the 1963 election with 2,872 for Butler and 2,251 for Cooksey, losing by 621 votes.
After the 1967 election, when Cooksey lost his second race against Butler, he was quoted as saying, “I love Marion and I’m interested in seeing Marion grow. I hope they make Marion a better place for our children and try to get industry for them. I hold no ill feelings for my opponents. They’ve got my backing and I’ll help them in any way I can. It was a good race, 2,251 votes. I’ve got a lot of friends and I’m proud of them.”
In October of 1967, with this political career behind him, he and his wife, Lillian, bought Judges Pit Bar-B-Que locate at 108 S. Madison Street just off the southeast corner of the square previously operated by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hamlett. The restaurant was remodeled and called Cooksey’s Restaurant.
He also worked as a driver’s license examiner for the State of Illinois.
Cooksey was a member of the Second Baptist Church and a member of Masonic Lodge No. 89 A.F. & A.M. in Marion.
Mr. Cooksey, 55, of 703 Vinewood, former Marion City Commissioner and Mayor died at 3:20 a.m. June 27, 1978, in the Marion Memorial Hospital.
He was preceded in death by one sister.
He was survived by his wife, Lillian, and children, Mrs. Bill (Linda) Dunning of Marion, Charles R. Cooksey of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mrs. Terry K. (JoAnn) Lytle of Rt. 5, Marion, Robert L. Cooksey Jr. of Schaumberg, Illinois, John Paul Cooksey of Carterville, Stephen R. Cooksey and Michael S. Cooksey both of Norfolk, Virginia; one brother, Troy Cooksey of Route 3, Marion; and four sisters, Mrs. James (Edith) Heltsley and Mrs. Opal Burchell both of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Ralph (Nella) Watson of Toledo Ohio and Mrs. Bill (Doris) Rust also of Colorado Springs and eight grandchildren.
Masonic services were held on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and funeral services were held Friday at 3 p.m. at the Mitchell Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Dann Sr. officiating assisted by the Rev. Louis Hebbler and the Rev. Raymond McGinness. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican, June 27, 1978; Southern Illinoisan, Oct. 1, 1967, April 19, 1967; Federal Census Records; Marion City Directories; Marion City Cemetery Records; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 01/22/2014)