William C. Cook, Jr., 85, passed away Monday, December 29, 2014, at his home. Bill was born on February 8, 1929, in Dallas, to William Carlyle Cook, Sr. and Evangeline Simmons Cook. He attended SMU on a football scholarship, where he played on a national championship contending team from 1948-1949. While at SMU, he met Bonna Lee DuBois, who led him to Beaumont. They were happily married for fifty-two years.
Bill’s career as a realtor and real estate appraiser spanned some forty-five plus years. He was well respected in the field and served in several capacities on the Beaumont Board of Realtors and the Sabine Area Chapter of Real Estate Appraisers. He was involved in his community through Boys Haven, Some Other Place, YMCA, and First United Methodist Church. Bill loved racquetball and was an avid participant in many tournaments at the YMCA, and later at the BPM Club. Bill also enjoyed traveling and spending time at the beach at Bolivar with his friends and family.
“Pop” or “Popeur”, as he was lovingly referred to, was preceded in death by his wife, Bonna Lee, and his son, Scott Carson Cook.
He is survived by his sons, Burnell Cook and his wife, Joan, of Beaumont; and Carlton Cook and his wife, Kathy, of Houston; daughter-in-law, Genie Sells Cook, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Katie Temcharoen and her husband, Maetin; Burnell Cook, Jr. and his wife, Maggie; Ellen Cook and her fiancé, Robert Ortega; Lucas Cook; Carson Cook; Lilly Kathryn Cook; and Connor Cook; two great- granddaughters, Anna and Olivia Temcharoen. Bill will also be greatly missed by his companion of 10 years, Jean Sprawls.
A gathering of Mr. Cook’s family and friends will begin at 9:30 a.m., with his funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, January 2, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder, Beaumont. His interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704, Alzheimer’s Association, 2909 West Holcombe, Houston, Texas 77025, or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3247, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
