Gayle Cook, Cofounder of Cook Medical, Dies at 91

August 17, 2025—Gayle Karch Cook, cofounder of the Cook companies alongside her husband Bill Cook, has died. She was 91.

Carl Cook has been CEO of Cook Group since his father’s passing in 2011. Company leadership will remain the same with Pete Yonkman as President of Cook Group and Cook Medical and Steve Ferguson as Chairman of the Board, noted the company’s announcement.

“Gayle’s spirit of innovation was evident in everything she did,” stated Pete Yonkman in the company’s announcement. “Whatever she was involved in, she left it better than she found it. This was true of her philosophy for the ever-growing company, her extensive efforts in renovating historically significant places, and her daily interactions with other people. That’s her inspiring legacy that we will keep striving for.”

As remembered in the company’s announcement, Gayle Karch Cook was born on March 1, 1934, in Evansville, Indiana. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts as a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University in 1956. She began her career in advertising in Chicago, Illinois. After marrying, Gayle and Bill moved to Bloomington, Indiana.

In the spare bedroom of their apartment, they began the small company named Cook Incorporated that manufactured three simple medical devices used to treat patients in less invasive ways than common surgical techniques of the time.

Gayle was the company’s first quality control employee, meticulously checking the devices Bill made after he finished work each night, noted the company.

The company grew into Cook Group, which includes the flagship company, Cook Medical, as well as companies in the life sciences, property management, resort, and service businesses.

In addition to her work with the company, Gayle was an avid supporter of historic preservation and economic revitalization projects. Beyond her involvement in the restoration work itself, Gayle served on the boards of many restoration organizations. She also authored and published two books on Indiana’s history, stated the company.

Cook Medical’s full announcement is available here.