Kendall Matthew Cook

Our dear son, loving brother, and best friend was welcomed back to his eternal Heavenly home on May 4, 2021. Kendall was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 29th, 1998 to Matthew and Kimberlee Cook. Kendall was born with many health challenges. He was able to overcome these challenges with the inner strength and determination that he carried throughout his life.
Kendall graduated with high honors from Union-Endicott High School in 2016. Kendall was considered a scholar athlete. He was ranked 15th in his graduating class. Kendall was an inducted member of the National Honor Society. He was smart and success in school came easily to him. Kendall was also a member of the Union-Endicott varsity cross-country team and multi-year letterman. He participated on both the outdoor and indoor track long distance teams. Running brought him great joy and he was not one to shy away from big hills or foul weather. Kendall had a famous kick toward the finish line, an extra gear that he could reach at the end of the race.
Kendall was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a four-year graduate of early morning seminary which he would attend every day before high school. He loved his teacher Brother Talley and always considered him a friend and mentor.
Shortly after graduation, Kendall served a two-year service and proselyting mission for the LDS church in Orem, Utah. Following his mission, he would often relate spiritual experiences he had while teaching the gospel of Christ to the people in Orem. He had fond memories of many of his companions.
Upon completing his mission, Kendall attended the University of Utah where he was on a pre-med academic track, as he aspired to become a corneal eye surgeon.
Kendall was a voracious reader. He loved books in the “fantasy” genre and could read thousands of pages a day. Kendall would often get lost in a good book and read through the night. Kendall especially loved any book written by Brandon Sanderson and aspired to write like him.
Kendall also loved video games from a young age and was a talented player. Like so many other young people of his age, he could stay up all night playing video games with his friends, enjoying the strategy and comradery of the games.
Kendall had a wonderful sense of humor and a sharp wit. He loved to make people laugh. Kendall was curious and creative. He loved to draw and spent hours sketching in his notebook. Kendall also loved listening to music. He loved classic rock and especially the band “Queen”. Kendall despised country music and we would endlessly torment him with it. Kendall also loved spicy food even though it didn’t always like him. We have many memories of him wiping sweat off his forehead because the food he was eating was so spicy.
Kendall loved his family, especially his best friend in the world, his Mom. They would talk every day and would spend hours laughing. Kendall was a fiercely loyal big brother. He loved his sisters and protected them. Although he was known by everyone he met as a kind and gentle young man, if there was anything that could get Kendall angry it was someone being mean to his sisters. He enjoyed spending time with his family, whether it was watching “Psych” on TV or sharing funny memes with his sisters and belly laughing, going on vacations, and spending time outdoors.
Kendall was blessed with a happy and joyous spirit. He had impeccable manners and always found a way to relate to everyone he met. He was a good listener. He influenced many people over the course of his life and will be dearly missed.
Kendall leaves behind his parents and his sisters, Kennedy, Kearsten, and Kamryn. He also leaves behind his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.
Services will be held Saturday 10 am at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 305 Murray Hill Road, Vestal. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, Friday evening from 5-7 pm.