Jay Christopher DeCook

Jay Christopher DeCook, 47, of O'Fallon, Missouri, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Friday, November 20, 2020, while doing what he loved, playing basketball with his friends. He was born on April 7, 1973, to his loving mother Mary Ann (Berendzen) DeCook and father Edward DeCook. Jay married the love of his life, Christina (Roark) on July 10, 2010, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Jefferson City, and they were blessed with two children, Brooklyn and Jackson. A 1991 graduate of Jefferson City High School, Jay attended Lincoln University and graduated from Columbia College. Jay was Vice President of Broker Sales at Worksite Innovations and an Agent with Aflac for many years. He was a trusted and well-respected friend and advisor to clients and co-workers alike. Jay was loved by everyone that knew him, and he was known for many things, including his generosity, being the life of the party, his great sense of humor, and his easy going and laid-back personality. Jay also had many loves in his life, especially, the one true love of his life, Christina, his mother, Mary Ann, an incredible role model, and his best friend and sister, Dori. Jay cherished his children, Brooklyn and Jackson, and was blessed to be a father figure to Spencer and Eden. He also treasured his friends, large extended family, and SJC Saints family. If you were a friend of Jay's, you were a friend for life. He was a "guy's guy" and enjoyed working out with friends at the gym, playing games and trivia (a walking sports encyclopedia), grilling, listening to music, playing basketball, or just hanging out. His aspiration to be like Jordan and LeBron led him to live an active lifestyle, which included coaching the children's basketball teams and being the "best dancer ever". Jay's smooth moves included the running man and moonwalk. Knowing Jay made you a better person. His kindness and compassion will leave a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Christina of the home; mother: Mary Ann DeCook of Jefferson City; children: Brooklyn and Jackson DeCook, Spencer and Eden Hoogveld; sister: Dori DeCook of Jefferson City; mother-in-law: Dana Sharp of O'Fallon; father-in-law: Vernon "Bud" Roark of California; brother-in-law: Eric (Angelica) Roark of California; nephew: James (fiance, Illyana) Roark; niece: Alicia Roark. Jay is also survived by his aunts, Dorothy Berendzen and Mary Lou Berendzen, his many cousins, two half-sisters, and too many friends to count. Jay was preceded in death by his father, Edward DeCook; grandparents: Fred and Dora Berendzen; aunts: Edna Doerhoff and Evelyn Speedy; uncles: Norbert Berendzen, Clarence Berendzen, and Richard DeCook. Friends will be received from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at St. Peter Catholic Church with Mass of Christian Burial following at 3:00 p.m. The family requests that all attendees adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions. The service will be live streamed on Millard Family Chapels Facebook page. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Jay C. DeCook Memorial Fund, an educational fund for the benefit of his children. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, Jefferson City, Missouri 65109 (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.millardfamilychapels.com.