George J. Cook, 71, prominent citizen of the Eustace community,
died at the family home there Thursday morning at 3 o'clock. Mr.
Cook suffered a paralytic stroke at 6:00 o'clock Wednesday morning
from which he never rallied.
Funeral services were held from the Eustace Methodist Church Friday
afternoon at 2:00 o'clock with burial following at the Payne cemetery.
Rev. L.D. Rose of Athens conducted the service.
G.J. Cook was born in Tarrant county, January 18, 1867. His father
was F.M. Cook, an early day resident of Texas. The family came to
Henderson county when he was an infant, and settled in the Cottonwood
community.
Mr. Cook attended the usual schools, and was reared on the farm.
At the age of 27 years, he engaged in the mercantile business at
Payne Springs, where he remained ten years. He then moved to Eustace and
was engaged in the mercantile business for seven years, and the retail
lumber business for five years.
Disposing of his lumber business he purchased a farm near Eustace, on
which he resided at the time of his death.
He was married to Miss Lillie Melton, a native Henderson county girl,
and member of one of the pioneer families of the county. to this union was
born seven children, all except one of whom are living.
Mr. cook became vice president of the bank at Eustace when it was
organized in 1910, and retained the same connection with that institution
at his death. All through his business career he had been interested as
owner in farming properties and was himself a successful, practical business
farmer.
He had always been a factor in community enterprises, taking an active
part in forwarding the interests of his home section.
Mr. Cook is survived by his wife, and three daughters, Ruth, Helen and
Joyce and four sons, Oscar, Loise, Joe and Hilbert Cook; four brothers, A.J.
of Eustace; W.M. of Corsicana; Edward, of O'Donnell, Texas, and Jesse Cook of
Collin county. three sisters who survive are Mrs. Ellen Owen, of Malakoff, Mrs.
Cora Carpenter, of Post, Texas, and Mrs. Henrietta Rogers of Stockard, Texas.