On January 29, 2023 Paul Herman Cook of Ward, Arkansas a beloved dad, grandpa and great grandpa passed away at the age of 85 years.
Paul was the 7th of 13 children born to the late Henry Talley Cook and Lanora Jeffers Cook. He was born at home on May 26, 1937 in Fairfield County, South Carolina.
In Paul's teenage years he worked in the cotton fields to help his family. At the age of 18 years, he joined the United States Navy. He served from 1955 until 1957 in California. There he met the love of his life, Betty Merlene McGuire Cook. They dated a short time before getting married in 1957. After being married for a wonderful 44 years when he lost his love in 2001.
Paul worked for many years in California for Mack Trucks in Hayward while also owning a Gulf Gas Station for 5 years and was also an auto mechanic always working on everyone's cars until he wasn't able to do it anymore.
In 1980 Paul and Betty moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania to continue working for Mack Trucks. After the California plant closed its doors, he retired from Mack Truck after 30 years in 1997.
After his wife passed away in 2001, he moved to Arkansas to be closer to his daughter and grandkids and even gained 15 great-grandchildren in the 21 years he lived in Arkansas. He enjoyed his retired life just being around his family.
Besides his parents and grandparents, he is preceded in death by 6 brothers, Henry JR, Osmond, Harold, John, Richard and Laverne Cook, 4 sisters Fannie Patterson, Doris Stockman, Marlene Huntley and Mary Roush.
Paul is survived by 1 sister Marion Patricia Williams of Lawrenceville, Georgia, 1 daughter Rebecca Maples, (David) of Ward, Arkansas,1 son James Cook of Searcy, Arkansas, 5 grandchildren, Trinity Bowers (Sam), of Lonoke, Arkansas, Jestiny Gibson (Jeffery), of Lonoke, Arkansas, Blaine Maples (Haley) of Quitman, Arkansas, Shyanne Stephens (Josh) of Hibbing, Minnesota, and Keleah Gray (Talon) of Conway, Arkansas, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews in South Carolina and North Carolina. He will be missed dearly.
A visitation will be on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Family Funeral Service in Heber Springs from 12:00 until 2:00 PM and funeral services will be at 2:00 PM in Family funeral Service Chapel by Pastor Odell Altom. Burial will be in California at Lakewood Memorial Park and funeral home in Hughson, California.