Donald Glen Cook

Donald Glen Cook, of Tonasket, peacefully passed away on January 30, 2013. He was 94-years-old and had been a resident at Park Place in Omak for 10 months.

Glen was born at home on October 18,1918 to John S. and Naoma (Colbert) Cook, the second of six children. He grew up living in the Sinlahekin Valley, Loomis and North Pine Creek areas, but he always considered Loomis his “home.” As a teenager he chased wild horses on Gold Hill and hauled bootleg whiskey by team and wagon. He logged in the CCC camp at Desautel, worked on Grand Coulee Dam by day and played guitar with a band in the bars on “B” Street at night. He herded sheep in Horseshoe Basin and rode for many ranchers in the area, breaking colts and herding cattle.

He met Delores Picard at his Uncle Bill’s house in East Omak and they were married in June of 1937. Once they started a family he needed a more stable means of support so he became a truck driver which turned into a life-long career. He moved his family to Seattle and for 15 years drove truck for every trucking company that had a terminal on Alaskan Way, always returning home to Loomis for hunting season every year.

The family returned to Tonasket in 1959 when he purchased Cook’s Cash Market. He operated the store and a small orchard until the 70’s, but always had a logging truck on the side, and hauled for every gypo logger in the area. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and could be found on many a Saturday, in his boat with a bag of chips and a 6-pack, on Blue Lake, Aeneas Lake or Chopaka. He loved packing into the Pasayten Wilderness for a camping/fishing trip and knew every trail by heart. He never lost his love for horses and never missed a rodeo. He loved to dance, and even at 90, enjoyed listening to the music and tapping his foot. He never missed a chance to play pinochle, and definitely hated to lose. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles for over 50 years.

In 1973 he moved to Idaho and lived in the CDA and Post Falls area for 32 years. Hewent “back on the road” for a time, and enjoyed his favorite pasttimes of hunting and fishing. He returned to Tonasket for the last time in 2005 to be nearer his family. He enjoyed telling stories of his experiences and adventures to his grand and great-grandchildren, always with a twinkle in his eye. He loved seeing the awe on their faces at the miraculous shot he made, orthe big one that got away; the bronc he busted and the sights he had seen.

Glen is survived by his children, Stan Cook of Malott, Glenda Smith of Tonasket and Lori Cook of Okanogan; six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson; his sister Nellie Mae Poulson (Leonard) of Tonasket, brothers Fred of Ephrata and Bob (Lorraine) of Loomis. He is also survived by numerous cousins and nieces and nephews in the area. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Roy and Clarence of Seattle and granddaughter Linda Smith.

Though he was pretty rough around the edges, he was loved by his family, and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service and inurnment will be held in the spring.