James “Jim” Davis Cook, age 88 of Waterford, Michigan, passed away under hospice care on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan. For the last several years he and his loving wife Mary had resided at the Lockwood Retirement Community in Waterford, Michigan.
He was born December 3, 1931 to the late Anthony and Sarah (nee Davis) Cook in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from that city’s Elder High School. Proudly served for a time in the Naval Reserve as a SeaBee.
In 1951 he married his childhood sweetheart and love of his life Mary (nee Godar) and they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2021. Together, and in short order, they had five children: sons Jim (Linda), Jerry, Mike (Vicki) and daughters, Jean and Kathy (Tim) Dowd, all of whom survive. He is also survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as his brother Roger (the late Beverly) and sister Winnie (Jim) Carter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Edwin and adoptive brother John “Bud” Nolte.
Jim was a superb finish carpenter, employing skills he learned largely from his maternal grandfather Davis, whom he idolized. He worked tirelessly for many years, at his main job and had many “side” jobs to support his growing family.
He was a man of boundless energy and seemingly limitless skills. Over the years he built houses, sailboats, was a parachutist, pilot and sportsman. After moving with his family to northern lower Michigan, he became a member of the Ski Patrol at a local resort.
Aside from his family, perhaps his proudest accomplishment was constructing from plans a small, high-performance aircraft known as a Barracuda. Built over the course of several years and mainly in the family garage. He and his navigator Mary flew it all around the Midwest and to many fly-ins.
He was a very dynamic man, a loving husband and father and will be very sorely missed. Rest in peace, Dad.
Per his wishes and due to the current pandemic, there will be no public service with cremation to be conducted soon.
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