David A Cook's Obituary
After 10 days of being apart, Dave “Daviey” Cook was reunited with his wife Barb in heaven. “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” —Charles Dickens. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 4th, 2023 in Largo, Florida.
Daviey Alonzo Cook was born to Mary Elizabeth Sharpton and Clarence Earl Cook on March 11th, 1936 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Dave spent his childhood in Stillwater where he would graduate from Stillwater high school. He also took some college courses in New York.
Dave served in the Oklahoma National Guard. He helped his step-father, Louis Rhea, run Rhea’s Moving Business. Dave then went on to own his own gas station at 624 W. 6th Street in Stillwater, while his brother Phil owned a gas station on the south side of town. Dave met the love of his life, Barbara Soch, at his gas station. In the words of one of Dave’s favorite singers, Tom T. Hall- “If you love somebody enough, you’ll follow wherever they go”. Dave was smitten. He followed her to New York and they were married in Ripley on May 28th, 1960. He then began his long-storied career as a traveling salesman. Starting with his career at American Tobacco Company, (the job he spoke of the fondest) Kendall Company, Monarch Insurance and Pitney Bowes. His territory covered most of NY (excluding NYC area and South Western PA. He delighted in telling his daughters that he was going to Cuba, Mexico or Rome- all NY towns that he had customers in. His local jobs included Goodyear in Niagara Falls and U- Wash Car Wash in Grand Island, NY.
Dave was a social butterfly that could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was a long time member of the Niagara Falls Elks Club Lodge #346 and a member of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (dues were only $7.80 in 1962). He was also a member of the Niagara Falls Power Squadron.
If he wasn’t traveling the states with Barb, they could be found playing Bridge with their friends. Crosswords were his passion and every morning you could find him completing one while enjoying his cup of coffee.
If you think you’re an avid sports fan, you’ve never met Dave Cook before. He loved sports. Any sports. Before VCR’s, he would set his alarm and get up at all hours of the night to watch a sporting event.
Usually, his beloved Oklahoma Sooners. He was also a devoted Buffalo fan- Sabres, Bills and now defunct Buffalo Braves. (“That’s 2 for Mcadoo!”). Dave’s best friend Lou Kaylor was always waiting by the phone in case they needed to discuss a play. If sports weren’t on tv then a good western (hopefully Gunsmoke) was playing. Dave was also a passionate Numismatist (coin collector) and stamp collector.
Dave was always ready with a joke or pun and had a sense of humor that could win over anyone. One of his favorite sayings was: “If wishes and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas!”
Preceded in death by his parents and stepfather Louis Rhea, his wife Barb, brother Phil (Mary) Cook of Ponca City Oklahoma, sisters Virginia (John) Kelty of Jetmore, Kansas and Bertha (George) Vandeventer of Wichita, Kansas, brothers Oscar and Oliver Ernst formerly of Glencoe, Oklahoma and nieces Louise Bradley and Beverly (Gerald) Domitrovic.
Dave is survived and deeply missed by his children Cheryl Bullard and Debra (David) Leone. He will be forever remembered and cherished by his grandchildren Paul Maddox, Kimberly Bullard, Christopher Bullard, John Leone and Rachel Leone. He is also cherished by his great-granddaughter Santana Maddox and several nieces and nephews.
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