Mr. Thomas Edward Cook

Thomas Edward Cook, 85, of St. Charles, AR passed away on April 17, 2018 at home after a long battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and congestive heart failure. Thomas was born on March 10, 1933 in St. Charles to Thomas Edward (Andrew) Cook and Annie Francis (Fraize) Cook. Except for a few years, Thomas lived his whole life in St. Charles. He served in the US Army and was a Korean War veteran on active duty for two years, stationed in San Francisco, CA and in Okinawa, Japan; then he was inactive for six years. He was proud of serving his country. After he was discharged, he worked at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, KS and also attended blueprint school. He met his wife of 62 years in Kansas. They moved to St. Charles in 1960 and built their present home there, one room at a time. Before becoming a carpenter full time, Thomas worked for Malcomb Browning of St. Charles, he was a deckhand on the St. Charles Ferry, and he also worked at Pioneer Foods (presently Producers Rice Mill) in DeWitt. He worked at Porter Lumber Company as a carpenter for over 20 years and helped build many of the current houses and commercial buildings. He later held supervisory positions in DeWitt, West Memphis, and Helena, AR. Thomas was a member of St. Charles Baptist Church and helped build the present building. He was also an American Legion member for over 50 years. He will mostly be remembered for his love of country music, playing his guitar and mandolin with friends. He told his wife that he was very young when he started singing, but he did teach himself to play the guitar at approximately age 12. From then on, Thomas was never without a guitar except for his 12 weeks of basic training in the Army. He also loved to hunt and fish in the White River and surrounding lakes. Thomas is preceded in death by his parents, one sister Thelma Mae Allen, one son Thomas Edward Cook (Tommy), Jr., one nephew Everett Alvin (Tweet) Allen, and a cousin, who was like a brother, Calvin Fraize, Jr. Thomas is survived by his wife Daisy Louise Cook, one daughter Deborah Louise (Richard) West, three grandchildren: Tommy C. Cook and Christopher L. (Jessica) West of DeWitt, and Samantha N. (Codi) Tacker of Jonesboro, AR; and five great grandchildren: Paul Zachary (Zach) Cook, Madison G. James, Destiny N. West, Abbigail M. West, and Ryker L. West of DeWitt. He also leaves one nephew Thomas Edward (Twila) Allen and one niece Joyce A. (Patrick) Sensat, both of whom he loved like a brother and sister. He also leaves behind numerous family, nieces and nephews, in-laws, cousins, and friends. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 20 at St. Charles Cemetery by Essex Funeral Home.

Mr. Thomas Edward Cook

March 10, 1933 - April 17, 2018