Cooke, Stephen B.

Friday, 02 July 2010 20:21

Stephen B. Cooke, age 82, passed away, Thursday, July 1, 2010. Visitation, 9-11am, Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Webb-Shinkle Mortuary. Graveside Services, 1pm, Tuesday, Clearwater Cemetery.

Stephen Bland Cooke, Jr., was born on October 20, 1927 in San Diego, California. He was one of three boys born to his parents, Stephen Bland, Sr, and Marguerite (Fraine) Cooke. His early years were spent growing up in San Diego and then Honolulu during his teen years.

He entered the United States Army on August 7, 1946. While stationed in Japan in 1960, he met and married Tomie. They adopted George and brought the whole family back to Pacific Grove, California. They divorced in 1977.

Stephen was in and out of the Army on and off from 1946 until his final separation date in 1969. He was a Russian Translator for IBMO at Presidio of Monterey, California, a Chief Pay Clerk, Traffic Analyst, Climatologist - he was a jack of all trades during his military career. He served 17 years and 7 months total.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Clearwater, Kansas. He was also a long time member of the Audubon Society and a lifetime member of the American Legion.

Stephen enjoyed bird watching, and after he was confined to a wheelchair, he took up knitting. He knitted scarves for children. He loved riding his scooter all over town, everyday! He had a horn on the scooter and enjoyed using it. You could hear him coming down the street. He was always thinking of the children. For July 4th, he would buy plenty of fireworks to give to the children he ran into on his scooter runs. He was generous to a fault. Family, friends, organizations, abused and abandoned animals, wherever he saw a need, even for the wellness center, he was there to help however he could. He once tried to free a mouse caught on a strip of sticky paper. He was absolutely broken hearted when it didn’t survive. He loved all animals, even rodents. Stephen was very social and friendly, talking to anyone about any subject. If he felt something was unjust, he would go to any extreme to right the wrong. He even wrote to the President on numerous occasions throughout his lifetime.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents and brother, George Cooke.  He is survived by his adopted son, George M. Cooke of Seaside, CA; daughter of the heart, Yvonne Hampton of Clearwater; brother, Donald L. Cooke of Spokane, WA; grandchildren, Jason Cooke, Jenniffer Purdue, Michelle Garvais; 8 great-grandchildren.

Visitation	Services
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 9-11 A.M. Webb-Shinkle Mortuary	Tuesday, July 6, 2010 1 P.M. Clearwater Cemetery