Tommie Cook

Tommie L. Cook passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 30, 2023, after a short illness. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of forty-seven years, Madeline (Dory), daughter Sherry and sisters Willa Jo (Bill) Wells and Ellen (Gary) Ames. He is survived by sister Violet “Pauline” Martin, daughters Debbie (Jim) Buck, Terri Cook and son Mark (Cyndy) Cook, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Tommie was born on a small farm in Alpine, Kentucky to Pearl and Crawford Cook. Growing up during the Great Depression, times were difficult for the young family, but whatever they lacked in material possessions, they more than made up for in love and devotion to one another. Tommie’s parents instilled in him the values of hard work, honesty and a sincere love of God. These qualities stayed with him throughout his entire life.

At the age of sixteen, with the United States coming out of the Great Depression, Tommie left home, seeking work in Cincinnati to help support his sisters and parents. He eventually found opportunities for his entire family and they joined him there.

At age seventeen he joined the United States Navy. When asked why he chose the Navy over the Army, he replied “You never have to sleep in the dirt in the Navy.” The Navy would prove to offer its own hardships and challenges as Tom found himself serving on the USS Bunker Hill in the Pacific Theater, an area that had seen some of the most vicious fighting of World War II.

After the war ended and Tom was honorably discharged, he returned to Cincinnati and married Madeline on November 29, 1947. He was hired by the Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain, and was soon asked to take a position with the Akron Beacon Journal. He accepted and moved his growing family to Akron, Ohio in 1957. He would go on to work there for 35 years, retiring in 1988.

Throughout his life, Tom sought to continuously improve himself through extensive reading and self-guided learning. In Akron, he became active in the Grotto Chapter of Toastmasters International. He served as its President from 1966-1967. In addition to working at the Beacon Journal, Tom became a part-time real estate agent and owned, managed and maintained numerous rental properties throughout Akron and Canton.

Tom was an active member of the West Akron Church of Christ and later with the Northwest Avenue Church of Christ. He was also a member of the Tadmor Shriners in Akron.

Tom was not the kind of person who complained about the difficulty of his circumstances, instead he took action to improve things, but never at the expense of others. He was well-known for his optimism, humor and generosity. Even at the end of his life, when faced with a variety of age-related ailments and limitations, his impeccable southern manners and innate gentility were remarked upon by his caregivers and those who met him.

He was an old-fashioned gentleman in every sense of the word. The story of his life and how he lived it encapsulates the values that make a person great; he loved God, his family and his country, not just in word but by deed. He will be sorely missed.

The family would like to extend special and heartfelt thanks to the staff of Bath Creek Estates for the kindness and care they extended to Tom during the last months of his life.

A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, from eleven in the morning to noon. A prayer service led by Reverend Scott Baker will follow.