Charles Andre Cooke

Charles “Blackie” Andre Cooke was born to Oscar Andre Cooke and Edna Hydrick Cooke on April 6, 1918 in Cedar Bluff, Mississippi. He died September 1, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He left the family farm at age 16 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps and was sent to Salina, Utah, where he met his first wife, Leah Crane. They had four children: Charles “Al” (Mary Lou), Nan Rae (Ron) Hills, Tareeca (Dickie) Biggers and Robert. After Leah died he married Nola Sorensen Gates and helped raise her daughters, Jean Marie (Cecil) Sorenson and Gayle (Floyd) Olsen. When Nola died he married Rayona Bagley Casto and raised her children, Colleen, Marlane and Kent (Frankie).

Charles fought in WWII in North Africa and Europe He was a machine gunner with the 38th Regiment 2nd Infantry Division. He landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, D-2. After the war he was a successful auto mechanic who owned and operated Cooke’s Garage for 35 years in Salt Lake City.

Gramp will be remembered as strong, determined and generous with a loving heart, beautiful blue eyes and a great smile. He was a wonderful storyteller, avid sportsman, expert gardener, Loyal Order of Moose member who loved to dance. He will be dearly missed.

Survived by his children, his brother, Paul, and by numerous grand and great grandchildren. Preceded in death by siblings, Bruce, George, Roy and Evelyn; daughter, Jean Marie and sons-in-law, Cecil Sorensen and Gary Stanga; grandson, Sean Cooke. Thank you to the wonderful medical professionals of the Salt Lake Veterans Hospital, Caregiver Support Network, Senior Companion, Janis Ries and neighbor Becky Bennion, for their care and compassion.

Services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015 at the Brookshire Ward, 3470 S. 1300 E., Salt Lake City, UT. Family gathering at 10:30 am; service at 11:00 am. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 1342 E. 500 South.