Obituary of John D. Cook

Mr. John Daniel Cook, age 85, of Boone, passed away Tuesday evening, January 10, 2017 at Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge. Born June 7, 1931 in the Stony Fork Community, he was a son of the late B. F. (Benjamin Fredrick) and Bessie Wellborn Cook. John grew up in Ashe County and graduated from West Jefferson High School and attended Appalachian State Teachers College before joining the Army in 1951, where he held the rank of Supply Sargent. The Cooks were active members of the First Baptist Church of West Jefferson prior to moving to Boone in 1969, when he and Wayne Johnson opened Johnson-Cook Ford. While in Ashe County he was active with the local volunteer fire department, served as a founding member of the volunteer rescue squad, and took an active role in the West Jefferson Lions Club, having served as President. After relocating to Boone, he was active in the Optimist, being selected as a lifetime member in 1996. John was also active in the local VFW and American Legion and was an active supporter of Appalachian State where he served on the Chancellors committee. He was a longtime member of Greenway Baptist Church and was active in the church choir, served as a deacon, an active member of the Couples 4 Sunday School class and the �Upper-class Club�. At Greenway, John demonstrated his love of the Lord and people by serving as the construction foreman of the Family Life Center. He was also very active in the Singing Saints Choir ministry and loved singing. From the 1969 until 2004 John and Rose were in the automobile business, having owned and operated Johnson-Cook Ford and John Cook Subaru. During his time in the auto industry he served as a director of the NC Automobile Dealers Association (NCADA). He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rose Burgess Cook, one son, Dan Cook and wife Fairley, two daughters, Allison Cook Hodges, and husband John of Vilas, and Jan Cook Deckert and husband Jeff of Raleigh, six grandchildren; Ben and J. C. (John Caleb) Cook, Katie Hodges, Daniel Hodges and wife Stacee, and Taylor and Ryan Deckert; two sisters, Wynona Hodges of Baltimore, MD, and Juanita Houck of West Jefferson, one sister in law, Davia Cook of Warrensville. He is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews and a host of wonderful, longtime friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Frances Nelson and two brothers, James and Bryce Cook. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 1 o�clock at Greenway Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Harold Bennett and Dr. David Luster. The body will lie in state at the church from noon until 1 o�clock. The family will receive friends with a covered dish fellowship celebration immediately following the service in the Family Life Center at Greenway Baptist Church until 4 PM. Graveside services and burial with military honors provided by American Legion Post 130 will be conducted Sunday, January 15, at 2 oclock at Ashelawn Memorial Park in Ashe County. The family respectfully requests no flowers and suggests donations to Greenway Baptist Church Building Fund, 880 Greenway Road, Boone, NC 28607 or to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, NW, Lenoir, NC 28645. Online condolences may be shared with the Cook family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Cook family.