Roger Dale Cook

of Violet Hill, Arkansas

Roger Dale Cook passed away at his home in Violet Hill, Arkansas, on May 3, 2024, at the age of 83 years, 10 months and 1 day.   Roger was born in Lakin, Kansas July 2, 1940 to Norman H. Cook and Maybelle Kash Cook.  His father worked in the oil fields which caused the family to move to different locations quite often, finally settling in Great Bend, Kansas.  So Roger was reared in various towns in Kansas and Oklahoma.  Roger started out working as a rough neck in the Kansas oil fields in his late teens.

He joined the Navy in 1962 where he saw 27 foreign countries.  He served on the tenders USS Los Angeles and the USS Piedmont where he learned to run a printing press for the Navy.  It was during this time that he married Sharon Hamsmith in Great Bend, Kansas.  The couple moved to San Diego, California, where his ship was based and later they were blessed with their first child.  After the Navy, the young family moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

Roger worked as an offset pressman while they were in Phoenix.  Another child was born to them in Tempe, Arizona.  After 8 or 9 years, Roger and his wife were unhappy with city life and saw their chance to move away.  They and the kids moved to Violet Hill, Arkansas and bought a farm on which they raised beef cattle, quarter horses and donkeys; and which they operated for 47 years.  Roger was especially fond of the donkeys.  Roger also worked as a contract carpenter for the NADC in Izard and surrounding counties for more than 20 years.

He also enjoyed feeding wild birds, hummingbirds and wild deer.  And he loved to watch the peafowl as well.  He put a mirror outside for the peacocks to look at themselves in.

More than anything else, Roger will be remembered because he really loved people.  He would latch on to some silly old corny joke and repeat it to everyone he came int contact with.  He would really get happy when he would hear that the Lord had healed someone or worked a miracle for them.  He attended the Assembly of God Church in Horseshoe Bend.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, both of Great Bend, Kansas.

Roger is survived by his wife of 60 plus years:  Sharon Hamsmith Cook of the home; his daughter Rogina "Gina" Jones and husband Jeff of Midlothian, Texas; his son:  Douglas Cook and wife Cristina of O'Fallon, Illinois; two brothers:  Ronald Cook of Hays, Kansas and Robert Cook and wife Sandi of Washington, D.C.; two grandsons; one step grandson; two granddaughters; one step granddaughter; four great grandchildren; one step great grandchild and a host of other relatives and many good friends.

Visitation will be Monday, May 6 from 5-7 p.m. at Eddie's Family Funeral Home in Melbourne.  Funeral service will be Tuesday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. at First Assembly of God Church, 1001 First Street, Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas 72512.  Burial will follow at Forrest Chapel Cemetery in Violet Hill, Arkansas.

Pallbearers:  Jon Alley, Brad Felton, Garrett Jones, Benjamin Cook, Ricky Gillespie, and Joe Searcy.

Honorary Pallbearers: Danny Felton, Robert Simmons, and Ommel Cross, Jr.