Yong Suk "Cookie" Cork

Yong Suk Cork, née Yi, affectionately known as "Cookie" passed peacefully in her sleep at home in Topeka, Kansas, on October 23, 2026. She was born on February 15, 1955, in Souel, Korea, and will be remembered as a devoted nurse, a caring presence to those she served, and a beloved member of her family.

Education was an important part of Yong Suk’s life and helped shape the path she followed in service to others. She graduated from Topeka High School, earned her Registered Nurse degree from Washburn University, and continued her studies at Wichita State for her post graduate education. Among her proudest accomplishments was earning her post graduate degree as an APRN, a milestone that reflected both her determination and her commitment to her profession.

Yong Suk built a meaningful career in nursing that touched many lives over the years. She began her nursing career with Topeka State Hospital. After its closure, she continued her work with Valeo until 2009. She later entered into a partnership with New Beginnings, and from 2018 until January 2026, she operated her own clinic office. Throughout her professional life, she was guided by a genuine desire to help others, a quality that was also reflected in the way she lived beyond her work.

Outside of her career, Yong Suk found joy in painting, knitting, and crochet. These interests expressed her creativity, patience, and warmth, the same qualities that made her such a valued presence in the lives of those around her. Whether through her work or her personal pursuits, she brought care and intention to what she did.

She is survived by her husband, John Cork; her brothers, Song Kgyoung Yi, Song Min Calhoun, and Song Ha Calhoun; and her sister, Margaret Calhoun. She also leaves behind the memory of a life devoted to family, compassion, and perseverance, and her presence will continue to be deeply felt by those who knew and loved her.

Yong Suk was preceded in death by her father, Jung Yi; her mother, Yong Song; her step-father, Edward Calhoun; and her son, Brandon Lee Cork.

Her life was marked by hard work, learning, generosity, and care for others. Yong Suk Cork will be remembered with love, gratitude, and lasting respect.