Koenning-Cook

Sherry Lynn Koenning-Cook, 61, of Bastrop County, passed away on May 16, 2021 in Smithville.

Sherry was born in Houston to Hugo and Yvonne Koenning on Aug. 10, 1959. She went to school at La Grange High School. On June 9, 2001, Sherry married Maurice Cook in St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from Southwest Texas State University and her Master’s from Texas State University.

Sherry’s professional journey in state government is inspiring. Spanning over 39 years, her career includes graduating with five college degrees, obtaining a Master Peace Officer Certificate from the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement, and earning the distinguished role of being the first female executive director in the history of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

Sherry’s career began at the Texas Department of Public Safety at the age of 17. As she rose through the ranks, Sherry proved to be instrumental in designing and developing the first usage of computers within the Texas Rangers where she was the first analyst assigned to the Texas Rangers. Ultimately, she advanced at DPS to Senior Manager of Systems Technology Services in 2001 while working toward a degree in IT Management, which she received in 2004 from Texas State University.

In 2006, Sherry accepted the role of Director of Information Resources at the TABC, where she drove the adoption of many automation and online initiatives. Sherry’s accomplishments recently earned her a nomination by the TABC to be entered into National Conference of State Liquor Administrators.

Sherry has contributed to the professional growth in the field of law enforcement, always taking an active role in professional development and understanding early in her career the power that comes with knowledge. Never ceasing to learn, Sherry has enjoyed an exceptional professional journey that has benefited the State of Texas and those given the opportunity to work with her.

Along with an accomplished professional life, Sherry’s personal life was filled with many joys that brought great pleasure to herself and everyone around her. She enjoyed traveling and making memories: family vacations, trips to the beach to soak up the sun and listen to the waves rolling in, annual girls’ trips over opening weekend, participating in parades while sporting her signature furs and hats, and globe-hopping with her husband. Sherry also enjoyed hosting any event that brought family and friends together, in particular friends who weren’t able to make it home to their own families. In this way and in many others, Sherry had compassion for others and strived to give back to her community.

Throughout her life, Sherry was a great inspiration and source of courage, compassion, and strength to not only her family and children but to anyone she ever met. Of course, to know Sherry meant you had to know her signature catch phrase because there was always room for “Just One More!”

Sherry is survived by her husband, Maurice Cook; daughter, Krystel Burton and her husband Bryan; son, Kyle Koenning and his wife Molly; son, Carl Cook and his wife Sheryl; son, Marcus Cook and his wife Melissa. She is also survived by her grandchildren Caleb Burton, Kourtney Burton, Brant Koenning, Jackson Koenning, Trey Cook, Rebecka Cook, Kolby Cook and Cody Keene.

Sherry is preceded in death by her parents, Hugo and Yvonne Koenning; and brother, Ray Koenning.

In her style, Sherry requested all women pallbearers; Joyce Rees, Barbara Caldwell, Cindy Goertz, Amy Harrison, Lisa Jackson and Debbie Denny.

Visitation was from 6 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 19 at Bastrop Providence.

Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 20, 2021 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 310 Frio Street, Winchester. Burial was held at 1:30 p.m. at Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota Street, Austin.

Memorials may be given to St. Michael’s Lutheran Church of Winchester and Family Worship Center of Elgin.

The family of Sherry wished to extend our sincere thanks to Joyce Rees, but there were others too numerous to name who are certainly not forgotten.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Bastrop Providence Funeral Home in Bastrop.