James Cook, 71, passed away on March 19, 2025, peacefully at his home after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA 71108. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. He will be laid to rest in Centuries Memorial Park. Officiating the service will be Pastor Buck Furlow.
James was born in Bradley, Arkansas on December 12, 1953. His family later relocated to Shreveport, LA. He graduated from Woodlawn High School. In 1972, he joined the Navy and was stationed on USS Forrestal CV-59, Norfolk, Virginia where he worked in the Nuclear Weapons Program. In 1976, he left the Navy receiving an honorable discharge. Following his time in the Navy, James pursued an education at Bossier Parish Community College while working for Martin Decker and Arklatex Oilfield Ignition. In 1988, he began work for Fresenius servicing dialysis machines. In 1999, received his diploma from Louisiana Technical College in Drafting and Design Technology. He went to work for Frymaster as a Draftsman and worked his way up to Designer. He retired from Frymaster in 2015. In every career choice James made he was always designing, building, or repairing something.
James enjoyed fishing, hunting, carpentry work, and was an excellent mechanic. There was nothing that he could not fix. He collected pocket watches. He enjoyed watching the Kansas City Chiefs, and he loved his cats Abby, Smoki, and Dusty.
James was preceded in death by his parents, John Franklin and Agnes Cook; his sisters, Francis St. Andry, Lily Mason, Mary Berghoefer; and his brothers, Charles Cook, Frank Cook, Walter Cook; his granddaughter, Kharma Cook; his beloved cat, Mona.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Gerritsen Cook; his children, James Cook Jr., Samantha Doyal (Patrick), step-son Alex Gerritsen (Katelyn); his grandchildren, Gage Heartsock, Emma Doyal, Collin Doyal, Evangeline Gerritsen, and Emerson Gerritsen; his brother Jackie Cook (Jeanette); his sister Caroline Sommer (Chris).
Pallbearers will be Blaine Anderson, Craig Burns, Eddie Cook, Randell Contario, Alex Gerritsen, and Vic Metcalf.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Kenneth Fitzgerald, Dr. Mark Smith, Dr. Kevin Gallagher, Dr. Jake Wang, the staff of Willis Knighton Cancer Center, and Willis Knighton Hospice Nurses for their benevolent care of James. Also, the family would like to give special thanks to Eddie Owens at the Willis Knighton Cancer Center.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Willis Knighton Cancer Center, DeSoto Parish Animal Services, Shreveport Bossier Animal Rescue, or to the charity of choice.
