Mr. Gary Ralph “Cookie” Cook, age 67, of Canaan, Indiana near Pleasant entered this life on December 18, 1950 in Madison, Indiana. He was the loving son of Ralph Theodore “Ted” and Effie Beard Cook. He resided all of his life in the Canaan and Pleasant communities. He was a 1968 graduate of Madison Consolidated High School and played softball and basketball. He then attended Hanover College and Vincennes University. He received his Bachelors in Psychology from Purdue University. On August 5, 1972 Gary was united in marriage to Beverly Sue Kelly at the Bennington United Methodist Church in Bennington, Indiana. This happy union of 37 years was blessed with daughters, Shanna and Nicole and son, Sean. Gary farmed all of his life He and his wife Beverly had Beverly’s Breezy Ridge Orchard and Fruit Stand and operated it since 1989 at Pleasant and Madison. He also operated a Christmas Tree Stand in Aurora for eight years. Gary was baptized and a member of the Brushy Fork Baptist Church. He held membership in Farm Bureau, American Fruit Growers Association and several other organizations. He dearly loved playing softball and played continuously for 20 years in Madison, Canaan, Pleasant and in Kentucky. He loved coaching basketball and softball since he was 21 years of age. Gary like to fish, squirrel hunt, riding his motorcycle with his friends, going to Frisch’s twice a day and was a great advocate for the underdog and would give you the shirt off his back. Gary died suddenly in a house fire on Saturday, January 13, 2018, in his home due to smoke inhalation.
Gary will be missed by his loving daughters, Shanna Cook of Greenwich, Connecticut, Nicole Cook-Ficaro and her husband, Jason of New Orleans, Louisiana; his loving son, Sean Cook and his wife, Hannah of Vevay, Indiana; his adoring grandchildren, Macy Laine Cook, McKenna Faith Cook, Bevyn and Brayson Cook-Ficaro; his mother, Effie Beard Cook Rich Armes of Canaan, Indiana; his mother in law, Cora Duke Kelly of North Vernon, Indiana; his brothers in law and sisters in laws, Danney and Angela Kelley of Madison, Indiana, Nancy and Harold Eugene “Griff” Griffith of Madison, Indiana, Evelyn and Danny Morris of North Vernon, Indiana, Geraldine and David Reed of North Vernon, Indiana, Barbara and Gary Hornsby of Madison, Indiana; his cousins, Connie Beard Ireland, Mike Jones, Pat Jones, Mark Jones and Leah Jones; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Theodore “Ted” Cook, his beloved wife of 37 years, Beverly Sue “Bev” Kelly Cook, died September 18, 2009, and his step fathers, Jim Rich and George Armes.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 20, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., by Pastor Mike Jones at the Canaan Community Academy Gymnasium, 8775 North Canaan Main Street in Canaan, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Grandview Memorial Gardens, 9306 North US 421 near Madison, Indiana.
Friends may visit Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Canaan Community Academy Gymnasium, 8775 North Canaan Main Street in Canaan, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gary and Bev Cook Remembrance Fund. Cards are available at the funeral homes and the school. Online condolences, www.haskellandmorrison.com