Maynard was born June, 28, 1924 in Waverley, KS to Minerva McDaniel Cook and Edgar Cook. He was a “high school dropout” who went on to get his college degree from UTEP and became a fabulous teacher and tennis coach.
He enlisted in the Navy at 17 yrs. old, during WWII and rose to the rank of First Class Petty Officer during his 4 yrs. He served his country well with distinction in many parts of the world. After the war and discharge from the Navy, he returned to Oklahoma and took the GED test to obtain his HS diploma. In 1947, while working at the VA Hospital, he met his kind, compassionate, beautiful and brilliant wife, our mother, Bettye Anne Kavanaugh and they were married at Grace Episcopal Church on Nov. 22, in Muskogee, OK. He was commissioned in the Air Force as an officer in 1949, again serving his country in Alabama, California, overseas in the Korean War, and after having 4 children; Timothy, Julie, Vicki and Mark, continued serving in various countries where they lived: Athens, Greece; Chateauroux, France; & New Delhi, India. He instilled honor and integrity within the family, as well as the men he trained.
After retiring from the Air Force & obtaining his college degree (determined), he taught high school in Austin at the “old” L.C. Anderson High in East Austin and later at Lanier H.S.
He had such an abiding love for his 4 children, 8 grandchildren (whom he referred to as his “little share-croppers”) & 8 great grandchildren. He adored and worshipped his wife, our mother. They were inseparable and taught us all the true meaning of “unconditional love”. The love, pride, courage and generosity he shared with us is immeasurable and the emptiness in our hearts will linger forever and ever. None of us were ready for him to leave us but it was his time to go & be rewarded in Heaven for leading such an honorable, giving, loving, kind, caring life. He is the truest meaning of a Remarkable Man and the “last of the Greatest Generation”. He will be missed so much it is unexplainable. We lost him Sunday morning, Dec. 29th, 2013 at 89 &1/2 years old, & after 66 years of marriage to our wonderful Mother, Bettye Anne - “Red” as he affectionately called her. We will never be the same. God bless you Daddy and rest in peace. We love you so very much.
He is survived by his wife Bettye; their sons Tim Cook (wife Beth, children Tiffany and Chris), Mark Cook (& wife LaWanda, children Billie Cook Daigle, Colt and Tyler); & their daughters Julie Gossett (&children, Jennifer, Shannon & Jake), and Vicki Cook Jones, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at Cook Walden Davis Funeral home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628. Interment will follow at Liberty Hill Cemetery.
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