Thayrel Vance Cook, age 94, left this mortal world to return to his Heavenly Father and his beloved wife, Thursday, November 4, 2004. Thayrel was born in Cedar Fort, UT August 19, 1910 to Barnes Alma and Alice Adeline Southam Cook, the second of 13 children. He married Pearl Merrell in Duchesne, UT March 2, 1934, after a 12 day courtship, and two weeks later they were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple for time and all eternity. They were married 63 years before Pearl died and their marriage was once described as one of the greatest love stories of our time. Together they had seven children, Marion (LaMont) Shupe, Ogden, UT, T. Robert (Pat) Cook, Salt Lake City, UT, Merrill (Alonna) Cook, Salt Lake City, UT, Jim (Bonnie) Cook, Myton, UT, Diane (Bob) Reay, Vernal, UT, Henry (Roberta) Cook, Delmont, PA, and Beth (Don) Clark, Orem, UT; 36 grandchildren; 70 great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren. Thayrel is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Arvilla Taylor, Rulon Cook, Florence Henke, Donald Cook, Bernard Cook, Reba Kitchen, and Maxine Harris. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl; his parents; and by his brothers and sisters, Sheldon, Marion, Edris, Mabel, and Esther; two grandsons; and one great grandson. Thayrel led a full life and enjoyed many occupations, including truck driver, farmer, miner, store keeper, lab technician, newspaper deliveryman, chauffeur for the Vernal Golden Age Center, and fulltime father and grandfather. He was active in the LDS Church his entire life and enjoyed his time doing temple work at many different temples. He had a true and lasting testimony of temple work and his greatest desire in life was to become like the Savior. Grandpa, you were a great example to all of us, and we will miss you. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 8, 2004 at 11 a.m. in the Timpview 5thWard chapel, 865 West 1000 North, in Orem, UT. Family and friends may call Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the chapel in Orem and from 10-10:45 a.m. Monday. Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Vernal Memorial Park. Family and friends may call from 10-10:45 a.m. at the Spafford Funeral Home, 224 East 500 South, Vernal, UT prior to the services. Flowers may be delivered to the home of Thayrel's daughter, Beth Clark, 1027 N 750 W, in Orem prior to the viewing or services.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 11/7/2004.