Cleo Lardiner Graham Cook: Rhythm, Laughter & the Light of the Party

Family profile adapted from cherished memories shared by great nieces from Lela Mays Clan. 

Curated by Kathleen A. Tucker (aka Kat) Her Proud Great-Niece

Cleo Lardiner Graham Cook was born on June 2, 1925, the eleventh child of Mack and Ada Graham. Though she came into the world quietly in the small towns of Southeast Missouri, Aunt Cleo would grow up to be one of the brightest sparks in the Graham family—a woman whose laughter, rhythm, and unforgettable spirit lit up every room she entered.

To say Aunt Cleo loved her family would be an understatement. She lived for family gatherings, especially on the weekends. The moment she showed up, everyone knew the energy was about to shift—in the best way. Her presence meant fun, stories, and most of all… dancing.

Aunt Cleo had a dance style that was all her own. The younger nieces especially adored watching her perform. She’d start patting her feet, getting into her groove, and just when you thought she was done—she’d pull out her secret weapon: a bottle tucked right into the neck of her boot! Her skinny little legs never quite filled those boots, and the way they’d stick out of the neck of those boots while she danced, had the kids howling with laughter.

She’d dance, pause, take a swig, and keep right on stepping, then drop into a deep squat and start slapping the floor like it was part of the beat! She’d pop back up, then do it again. That was her signature move. And to this day, whenever the music gets going, someone always breaks out into Aunt Cleo’s signature dance—complete with the squat and floor-slapping—and the whole room bursts into laughter, as if she never missed a beat.

But behind all the laughs was a woman who deeply loved her people. She never missed a chance to bring joy to others, and her natural humor made everyone feel at home. She didn’t try to be the center of attention—it just came with her.

Even as time passed, those moments with Aunt Cleo remained etched in our memories: the sound of her laughter, the rhythm of her feet, the glint in her eye when she was about to show out just a little… and the way she made everyone feel like family mattered most.

Though she passed in December of 1989, her spirit is still very much with us. Every time we gather, share a laugh, or move to the beat, we honor the joy she gave us.

Cleo Lardiner Graham Cook gave us laughter, rhythm, and the freedom to enjoy life out loud. And for that, we’ll never forget her.