December 5, 1942 – February 11, 2024
Mr. Ellis Vernon Cook, age 81, passed away very suddenly on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at his home in Cairo, Georgia. Services for Mr. Cook will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, February 16, at Eastside Baptist Church, 404 5th Street N.E., Cairo, Georgia. The Rev. Todd Gainous and the Rev. Matt Vickers will officiate. The interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers will be David Cook, Craig Hardeman, Anthony Reynolds, Luis Avila, Kurt Spitzer, and Mark Jacobs. The Deacons of Eastside Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, at Eastside Baptist Church.
Vernon was born December 5, 1942, in Cairo, Georgia, to George Imer Cook and Sadie Horton Cook. He graduated from Cairo High Class of 1961. After high school he joined and proudly served in the United States Air Force. While home on leave from Loring AFB, Maine, Vernon met Donnell Jackson at a church function and, three weeks later, they were engaged. They were just a few weeks short of their upcoming 60th wedding anniversary. Vernon and Donnell raised three sons and a daughter.
After separating from the Air Force and trying to decide what he wanted to do Donnell wrecked their car. The insurance adjuster came to their house to process the claim and piqued Vernon’s interest in the career field. After finishing claims adjuster school in early 1967, he moved his family to Leesburg, Georgia. In 1990, Vernon moved his family from Leesburg back to Cairo. He retired from GAB Robbins as a claims adjuster in 2008.
Retirement was nice but was not for Vernon. He began working at Drew Oil (D and G storage). Vernon’s job was everything from carpentry and repairs to the renting of units. His work ethic was exemplary. Vernon’s life was an example of a Godly father and husband. The children say he was tough but firm, quiet and gentle but strong in his faith. A member of Eastside Baptist Church, he served on every committee there at some point, as Sunday school superintendent for many years, and as an ordained deacon. His dedication and servant’s heart will be missed. Vernon loved being outside. He had a great garden and shared his vegetables with so many. Let it rain and you would find him under his shelter peacefully listening to the drops. Vernon loved to go to the mountains, loved to watch Westerns, and loved to mow his grass. Vernon Cook was a smart, generous, caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be dearly missed.
Vernon Cook is survived by his wife, Patricia Donnell Cook of Cairo; children, Stephen W. Cook (Shana), of Valdosta, Georgia, Dennis K. Cook of Cairo, David K. Cook of Hahira, Georgia, and Kandee K. Avila (Luis) of Jemison, Alabama; grandchildren, Brittany Spitzer (Kurt), D. J. Cook, Meshea Hardemon (Craig), Heaven Leigh Jacobs (Mark), Kamil Reynolds (Anthony), Christopher Watson, Haedyn Cook, and Bryanna Watson; and great-grandchildren, Ava McKeon, Shephard Hardeman, Mabel Hardeman, Cora Hardeman, Penelope Reynolds, Pippa Reynolds, Pricilla Reynolds, Angel Watson, and Kayden Watson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, George Wayne Cook, and his great-grandchildren, Loran Hardeman and Haddie Hardeman.
Memorial donations may be made in his honor to: Eastside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 749, Cairo, Georgia 39828.
Online condolences may be sent at www.coxiveyfuneralhome.com. Cox-Ivey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
