Mr. Cook was a precision road building contractor in the States of Louisiana and Texas for many years. In 1989, he became County Road Manager in DeSoto County, Mississippi and later moved on to overseeing and inspecting large scale runway construction projects at the Memphis International Airport.
Mr. Cook married Hope Henry in 1957 and they enjoyed dancing, parties, gardening, and together raised four wonderful children.
Mr. Cook was a long time supporter of the Germantown Charity Horseshow, was active in Carnival Memphis including the Grande Krewe of Sphinx and the Grande Krewe of Ra Met. In 2018, he was "King Ra" of the Grande Krewe of Ra Met. He was a parishioner at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Collierville. He loved airplanes and aviation history. He was an avid sports fan, enjoyed the outdoors and hunting trips, and loved traveling with his family and spending time with and being a part of his children's lives.
Mr. Cook spent untold hours at horseshows, basketball games, and on hunting trips with his kids.
Mr. Cook is survived by his wife Hope Henry Cook, three loving children Leta Marie Cook Moore - deceased 2016, Patricia Leigh Cook, Earl Willard Cook, Jr., Thomas Jonathan Cook and grand daughters, Alice Meriwether Cook and Hope Elizabeth Noel Cook
Also survived by him, his brother, Van Russell Cook and his family, as well as his niece Tina Linnete Cook and his two nephews Roy Parker Cook, Jr. and David Glenn Cook. All residents of the State of Louisiana.
Mr. Cook is a graduate of Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. and attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Centenary College in Shreveport and Louisiana State University in Shreveport.
Mr. Cook was a veteran of the Korean War.
He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
A Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Collierville Funeral Home, 3863 Bailey Station Rd, Collierville TN, 38017 and a graveside service for Earl will be held Wednesday, August 23, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene, Memphis, TN 38125.
