Samuel Newton Cook Jr. (Seymour)'s Obituary
Samuel (Sam) Newton Cook, Jr., was born May 4, 1926, to Samuel and Laura (Henson) Cook, in Seymour, Missouri. He departed this world on Monday, December 23, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 87 years, seven months and nineteen days.
On October 22, 1946, he married Lois Pauline Johnson and to this union four children were born. They were married 65 years until her passing in December of 2011.
Sam proudly served his country entering the United States Army in 1946, serving two years as a mess cook. He then re-enlisted into the United States Air Force, serving two more years as an airplane mechanic. He received an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces as an Airman First Class, Retired Reserve, in 1957. He continued his service to his country and fellow veterans as a member of the Honor Guard. He worked as deputy sheriff in the jail division under Mickey Owens at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and spent many years in security and law enforcement.
Though Sam had lived in Springfield for several years, he was a long-time resident of the Seymour area, having lived in Fordland for nearly 20 years. For a short time, he served as mayor of Fordland after winning the vote in 1994. Over the years, he played in several country music bands, including the Ozark Mountain Gang. His passion was playing the harmonica, so talented he could even play it backwards. He appreciated antique cars and loved gardening; he and Lois enjoyed canning tomatoes and vegetables from their garden. Sam was of the Pentecostal faith.
In addition to his wife and parents, Sam was preceded in death by his infant son and two daughters, five brothers and three sisters.
Sam is survived by his daughter, Evelyn (Cook) Choate and husband, Jim, of Niangua; David Nixon, whom he raised as a son, and his wife, Vickie, of Texas state; three grandchildren, Sharon Choate, Brenda Shawley, and Jimmy Choate; three great-grandchildren, Ronnie Shawley, Shelby Choate and Bowen Goodwin; brother, Charles Dee Cook, of Willard, Missouri; and sister, Mildred Blankenship, of Springfield, Missouri; and a host of nieces and nephews, along with family and friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Samuel ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Samuel ?
Share a story where Samuel 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Samuel you’ll never forget.
How did Samuel make you smile?
