Neil Walter Cook

On March 3rd, 1921, Neil Walter Cook, was the sixth of seven sons to be born to Elmer Ernest
and Scottie Bell (York) Cook. Like his older brothers, Neil was born near Richards, Colorado in a dugout
located on his folks homestead thirteen miles south of what in now Walsh, CO. There was always
chores to be done on the homestead including feeding the horses, chickens and milking cows. We are
sure that with all those boys there was plenty of mischief played on each other during the time those chores were getting done.
Neil attended school in a one room school house in the rural Glendale School District No. 63
for eight years. Like all the children, Neil rode a horse the seven miles round trip to Glendale. He attended his first year of high school in Richards District No. 19 and then attended Walsh High School. Neil didn't graduate from high school but got his GED in 1958 at the age of thirty-seven.
When Neil was in the eighth grade he was stricken with scarlet fever in April. He was quarantined in the "middle bedroom" for several months, seeing only his beloved Mom and care taker. His future was uncertain, but his mother was determined to nurse him back to health and at the same time, she was determined to keep the rest of the boys from coming down with the dreaded scarlet fever disease. Scottie boiled everything Neil touched in her big black kettle. Neil overcame the odds and in November, he was finally able to return to school.
With six living sons, it was evident that athletics would play an important part in the family. So
"The Cook Brothers Basketball Team" was formed and they became quite well-known locally and had lots of fun matching games with other teams. From what we have heard, it was hard to beat the Cook boys.
In 1941 Neil left Colorado for California to drive a dump truck for his older brother, Boyd. But prior to leaving Colorado, the "love bug" had bitten Neil. It didn't take a great deal of coaxing from Boyd
for Neil to return home to his sweetheart, Erma LaVerne McGowan. Neil & Erma were united in marriage on January 25, 1942 in Boise City, OK. In August of 1942, Neil followed in the footsteps of
his older brothers and joined the Armored Force Division of the U S Army. Neil was trained in the operations of the army tanks. Neil and Erma spent the next 3 1/2 years living off the base of Fort Knox in Elizabethtown, KY. Just prior to being shipped overseas, Neil sustained a back injury and received an Honorable Discharged after serving stateside.
When Neil and Erma returned to Baca County in 1945, Neil was employed by the Firestone Store
in Springfield, CO. In 1946, Neil became employed by the Burchfield Oil Company of Walsh, CO. When Burchfield Oil Company was sold to Ogle Cogburn in August, 1946, Neil became the manager of Cogburn Oil Company. For thirteen years Neil was employed at Cogburn Oil. It was in January of 1959 that Neil purchased the bulk fuel business from Cogburn Oil. Twelve years later in January of 1971, Neil purchased the balance of the company which then became the Cook Oil Company. Neil diversified his business by becoming a long time Goodyear Tire dealer and a Big A Parts distributor. Neil decided to retire and sold Cook Oil Company to his son, Erroll, in June, 1986. Erroll continues to diversify the business adding livestock feed and supplies and ATV sales. Cook Oil continues to serve Walsh and the surrounding communities after fifty years which is a tribute to Neil's hard work.
Neil work long hours to provide for his wife and two sons. Erroll Gay was born on May 28, 1946 in Springfield, CO and Vaughn Myron was born in Lamar, CO on May 3, 1950. The boys learned many life lessons by observing their hard working Dad. Neil was always willing to help others. Many times Neil would leave Sunday fried chicken dinner to fix a tire for someone. Although Neil was not able to take in all of Erroll and Vaughn's school activities due to business obligations, he certainly more than made up for that by attending all kinds of activities his grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved in. Erma and Neil attended dance and gymnastics programs, school programs, music programs, many fairs and livestock shows and a ton of ballgames. Neil's had his own method of keeping games stats and was very accurate doing so. Neil was a true sports fan!
Neil served on the Walsh School Board and Walsh City Council and was always a willing community helper. Neil was a long time member of the Walsh Methodist Church and enjoyed attending bible study when able. After retirement, Neil enjoyed taking care of his lawn and garden, piddling in his shop, and fixing anything that was broken. He also enjoyed playing his electric fun organ. Probably his favorite thing to do in the later years was to watch sports, especially football and baseball,
on TV.
When Neil's health began to fail and Erma wasn't able to care for him, Neil conceded that he needed help and became a resident of the Walsh Health Care Center in 2006. Erma soon joined him. They celebrated their sixty-fifth anniversary in January 2007, prior to Erma passing
on May 6th of 2007. Neil lived the next few years without his beloved Erma.
Neil's pain and suffering ended on December 1, 2011 at the Walsh Health Care Center. Neil was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Erma of 65 years; his parents, Elmer and Scottie Bell Cook; his brothers and sister-in-laws, Herman (infant), Leland and Vera Cook, Boyd Cook, Clyde and Gayle Cook and Roland and Cecil Fern Cook; sister-in-law, Betty McGowan; in-laws, Neal (Dick) and Lena McGowan and Beryl Arlene (McGowan) Rose; great niece, Tatum Cook, great nephew, Dixon McGowan, and devoted daughter-in-law, Charlene (Gayle) Cook.
Left to cherish Neil's life and memory are his sons, Erroll Cook of Walsh, CO and Vaughn and Jill Cook of Ft. Collins, CO; grandchildren Chad and Kristi Cook, Brent and Heather Cook, and Brad Cook all of Walsh, CO, Brandi and Bart Herndon of Glenpool, OK, Shannon Cook of Stillwater, OK, and Bailey and Jamie Cook of Ft. Collins, CO. His five great-grandchildren from Walsh, Christopher, Darin, Austin, Montana and Dakota Cook all have precious memories of their Grandpa Neil. Brynna and Bria Herndon great-granddaughters of Glenpool, OK will learn from others how very special Grandpa Neil was. Others saying good-bye include his brother, Dean & Betty Cook, Walsh, CO, sister in-law Edna Rae Cook, Elkhart, KS., brother-in-law Bernard McGowan of Bethany, OK, Gwen Cook of Ft Collins, CO; nine nephews, seven nieces, and countless great nephews and nieces. Neil also leaves many extended family members and a host of friends.