Clay Cook, 88
Well known and highly respected Wartrace Creek Community farmer and retired carpenter Clay Cook died at the age of 88 Wednesday June 1, 2011 as the result of a tractor accident on Porterfield Lane near his Wartrace Highway farm when for an unknown reason the tractor rolled back flipping over backwards by the roadway apparently killing Mr. Cook instantly. The Jackson County E-911 received the call for assistance at 3:57 p.m. Wednesday afternoon June 1st and authorities pronounced Mr. Cook dead at the scene. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday morning June 4th on Mr. and Mrs. Cook’s 62nd anniversary from the Hackett Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home.
His pastor Bro. Jeff Burton and his former pastor, Bro. Kenneth Clayton officiated at the services and burial followed in the Campground Cemetery by Mr. Cook’s home. Born Clay Dennis Cook in the Highland Community of Jackson County on December 15, 1922, he was one of eleven children of the late William Ambrose Cook who died April 1, 1948 at the age of 66 and Flossie Leona Richardson Cook who died at the age of 98 on April 7, 1990. Preceding Mr. Cook in death were 5 sisters, Alma Butler & husband Floyd, Zephia Witcher and husband Raymond, Ruby Givens, Grace Keith and husband John, Opal Holland and husband Duard and three brothers, Dow Cook and wife Jo Cason Cook, Dillard Cook and wife Blanche, Donald Lee Cook. On June 4, 1949 in Rossville, Georgia he was united in marriage to Jackson County native Dolores Minchey. Mr. Cook and his nephew Ralph Cook owned and operated C and R. Cook Construction for over 40 years. Mr. Cook proudly served our country during World War II with the United States Army. He was inducted June 7, 1944 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant at Camp Chaffee Arkansas on May 17, 1946. His total overseas service was one year, three months and fifteen days for which he received the World War II Victory Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal, the Asian-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, & the 23rd Headquarters Army Occupation Ribbon for Japan. He was a longtime member of the Wartrace United Methodist Church. Surviving in addition to his wife of 62 years are two brothers, Draper Cook and wife Betty of Nashville, Joe Cook of Dickson, sister-in-law, Edith Cook, brother-in-law, James Givens both of Hendersonville. The Cook family requests memorials to the Campground Cemetery Care Fund.
