of Batesville, AR
March 10, 1929 - November 21, 2013
Samuel Coombs Cooke of Batesville, born March 10, 1929 to the late Samuel Coombs and Elsie Burmeister Cooke of Bowling Green, Kentucky, died on Thursday, November 21, 2013.
He leaves his wife of 63 years, Kate Dunkin Cooke; four children and their spouses, Becky and Anthony Falkowski (Little Rock), Dr. Sam D. and Rita Cooke (Batesville), John and Cindy Cooke (Batesville), and Mary and Chris Boushelle (Fayetteville); 11 grandchildren and their spouses, Emily Halpern (Delray Beach, Florida), Jeff and Bethany Halpern (Crownsville, Maryland) and Dr. Ryan Halpern (Dover, Delaware), Allison and Dr. Byron Wilkes (Germantown, Tennessee), and Dr. Samuel and Lindsey Cooke (Fayetteville), Alex and Sara Cooke (Vilonia) and David Cooke (Fayetteville), and Jay, John, Katherine and Rebecca Boushelle (Fayetteville); 3 step-grandchildren, Alexandra and Alyssa Chunn and Preston Caldwell (all of Batesville); 5 great-grandchildren, Kyle and Collin Halpern and Dunkin, Charlotte and Lucy Wilkes. A brother, Ray B. Cooke, preceded him in death.
He was a graduate of Tulsa University in geophysical engineering. He played basketball for both Western Kentucky University and Tulsa University and was a member of ATO fraternity. He married his college sweetheart and they lived in Montana, Wyoming, California, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana while he worked as a geologist for Sunray DX Oil Company and Amerada Oil & Gas. After seven years he became part of a mining business, Silica Products Company, in Guion, Arkansas on the White River, owned by his mother-in-law, the late Mertie A. Harris. He later led the company as its president until he retired in 1988 when the company was sold.
Sam designed and helped with the building of the Guion Methodist Church; was a member of the Lyon College Board of Trustees, interim Lyon College treasurer, and a member of the President's Council; a member of First Presbyterian Church in Batesville where he served in many offices including as an Elder and a Trustee; was a member of the Batesville School Board for eight years; was an original founder of the Batesville Utilities Commission; and was a founding board member of the Independence County EMS, now known as Vital Link.
Sam said his three guiding principles in life were honor, duty and country. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life… his wife's cooking, his weekly men's coffee group, crossword puzzles, Lyon College baseball, Kentucky history, learning about Civil War history, staying abreast of current events, old cowboy flicks, and keeping up with his children and grandchildren and all of their life experiences. He especially loved the Scottish bagpipes.
The family would like to express its appreciation to the caregivers and Arkansas Hospice who completed the journey with him.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Batesville on Wednesday, November 27, at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by Roller-Crouch Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Lyon College, PO Box 2317, Batesville, AR 72501 and to First Presbyterian Church, 775 E. Boswell, Batesville, AR 72501 or to a charity of choice.
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29 Condolence(s)
Nick & Katrina Fudge
Friday, December 13, 2013
Nick & I are so sorry for your loss. We will continue to lift your family up in prayer.
Jo Stroud
Monday, December 9, 2013
I really liked and respected Sam. My prayers are with you.
Bee and Glen Meldahl
Friday, December 6, 2013
Becky and Anthony,
Glen and I are so sorry to hear about your loss. Any words are insufficient, but both of you are in our thoughts.
Bee
Sam Stokes
Monday, December 2, 2013
We were sorry to hear of your father's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sam and Ruth Anne
becky bailey morris
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Kate,
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers with much love!
God bless you...you are a very special family to me!
Becky Bailey Morris
Mickey Coe
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
I am so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed Sam so much at our men's breakfast each week. He is missed very much.
William and Jana Bell
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Mary and family,
I am so sorry for your loss, what a wonderful man he was. I wish I could be there for the service, but know I will be thinking of you all tomorrow.
David &Deborah Wyatt
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
So sorry for the families loss.
Holly, David, Bethanie and Peyton Sharp
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Dear Cooke Family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Sam was such a wonderful person. We are keeping you all in our prayers.
Marilyn Diemer Earnheart
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this time. I will always remember Mr. Sam's beautiful & sweet smile.....as his picture demonstrates. Praying for comfort and peace in the days ahead.
In His love,
Marilyn
Marcus and Glenda Bowers
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
He was such a good man and Batesville will certainly miss him. Blessings to all his family. Marcus and Glenda
J D & Ionice Pierce
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
He was a wonderful man that loved his family. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Gerald & Tami Ramey
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
So sorry to hear about your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Hal & Heather Skinner
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Sam,
We are thinking of you and your family. Mr. Sam was your #1 fan during Lyon baseball.
MARLENE GOLDSCHMIDT
Monday, November 25, 2013
My thoughts are with you and your family at this very difficult time. I remember Sam as a classy, good caring man. He will be missed.
Lori Burks Haynes
Monday, November 25, 2013
A kind, friendly and wonderful man who will be missed by many people. So sorry for your loss.
Lori Burks Haynes
Jamie and JoAnn Scarbrough Davidson
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Your family is in our prayers. Sam was a fine gentleman. I had relatives from Guion and spent a lot of time there. Our deepest condolences to your family.
Joel
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Knew Sam and Kate many yrs ago great people and great family some many times I think of them I will always remember Sam RIP
Pam House Lovett
Saturday, November 23, 2013
So many happy memories with your family through the years. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you.
jay black
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Our prayers and sincere condolences at your time of great loss.
Jay and Sharon Black
Aline McCracken
Saturday, November 23, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with the Cooke family..
Wanda Pomeroy
Friday, November 22, 2013
So sorry for your loss.
Harlon & Shirley Martin
Friday, November 22, 2013
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Debbie Phillips
Friday, November 22, 2013
I'm so sorry for your loss. He was a very kind man and a pleasure to help with his glasses. God Bless you
Debbie Phillips and family
Ann McCaa
Friday, November 22, 2013
So sorry for your loss! We'd be there for visitation, if we could! Will be remembering you all in my prayers!
John Baxter
Friday, November 22, 2013
Peace.......jb
Va Rue Guthrie
Friday, November 22, 2013
As I knew Sam, he was a loyal and friendly man.
He was very likable and we were blessed to have him in our family. My condolences to his wife, Kate and his children and grandchildren.
Va Rue Guthrie.
Connie & Jerry Townsley
Friday, November 22, 2013
Sam Cooke was a fine gentleman. I enjoyed getting to know him thru Lyon College. When he served as interum treasurer, we worked together frequently. You are in our prayers
Jan Burrow Qualls
Friday, November 22, 2013
In my thoughts and prayers