Obituaries: Charley Clarence Cook, Sr.

Charley Clarence Cook, Sr.
1922~2009
Charley Clarence Cook, Sr. was born in Yates Center, Kan., Aug. 2, 1922, to Robert J. and Daisy Margaret Smith Cook. When Charley was 6 weeks old, his parents moved to Colorado to homestead in Abar, Colo. They traveled in a covered wagon. Charley attended a little country school with about 30 kids, classes first- through eighth-grade. Charley worked on neighboring farms when any one needed harvest hands for small wages but had room and board. This was the depression years. When he was about 15 years old Charley worked in the Civilian Conservation Corp (C.C.C.). He was stationed up by Trail Ridge Road near Estes Park, Colo., where a crew of young men built the stone retaining walls along the mountain pass near Estes Park. After working this he worked CCC near Sterling, Colo., for a short time but returned home to help his dad on the farm.
In October 1941, Charley enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he spent four years. He served on the USS Indiana and the USS Laws. Charley earned nine of the 18 stars presented for Asiatic Pacific and the only two stars presented for the Philippine Liberation. He received separation papers in October 1945 and returned to Colorado. His parents had moved to Meeker and Charley joined them there and worked for the Colorado Highway Department the summer of 1946 at which time he met, courted and married his wife Lucille Storey on June 2, 1946. The next year Charley moved with his family to Rangely, Colo., and went to work for the California Oil Company where he worked as roustabout hand, pumper gauger, gang pusher then drilling representative. Charley retired in 1984, rented a home and became a “snow bird,” wintering in Arizona and summering in the mountains of Utah and Colorado, spending his time golfing, bowling, fishing and hunting. He took silver smithing and lapidary classes and spent many hours in his shop making rings, necklaces and bracelets for his family and friends.
Charley leaves behind the love of his life Lucille, three children: Doris (Glen) Beaman of Vernal, Marsha (Larry) Morris of Vernal, Charley Jr. (Kathy) Cook of Vernal, four brothers: Walter (Roberta) Cook of Meeker, Jim (Patty) Cook of Meeker, Tom Cook of Meeker, and Sam Cook of Pueblo, Colo., four sisters: Dorothy (Harold) O’Brien of Denver, Sal Riding of Meeker, Mary Copeland of Meeker, Peg (Pat) Burke of Montrose, 16 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and six great great-grandchildren. Charley especially enjoyed spoiling and having the little ones around. Charley was preceded in death by a daughter, Daisy Joslin, and two sisters, Lois Downey and Sue Sutton.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. Military rites will be presented by the American Legion Post 124 and 11 under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.