Dr. James A. Cook, Jr., 71, died suddenly January 19th, 2006 on the golf course where he loved to be. He was born in Providence, R. I. on February 11, 1934. His parents were James Allison Cook and Gladys Harding Cook. He leaves his wife of 50 years, Catherine; son Michael A. Cook and wife Deborah of Smyrna, Georgia, son James A. Cook, III and wife Mariella of Germantown, Tennessee, daughter Lisa K. Houk and husband Paul of Montgomery, Alabama, daughter Julie E. Einhellig and husband Robert of Littleton, Colorado, daughter Sarah J. Bergman and husband Bruno of Westerville, Ohio, sisters Nancy Churbuck of Onset, Jane Duckworth of Muncie, Indiana, 10 grandchildren, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Ralph Pratt, 9 nieces and nephews, and 7 cousins. James attended Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa, Brown University, Providence, R.I. and received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. He was a resident of Barberton, Ohio for 31 years and was active in many capacities in his church and community. James worked for 30 years at PPG Industries in Barberton, Ohio as a research chemist as well as 5 years for Chevron in Richmond, California. He then set up his own business as a consultant, Muddy Cove Chemical Consultants.
James spent every summer of his life at Onset and became a full time resident in 1994. James was an evangelist/patriarch in the Community of Christ and Church School Director. He was chairman of the Marketing Committee for the Board of Trustees of the Onset Campgrounds. He was a member of numerous civic groups including the Earth Stewardship Committee of the World Church Community of Christ, the Bay Pointe Country Club in Onset, the Onset Creative Arts Association and the Onset Bay Association. James was very much a family man, often traveling great distances to visit his loved ones. He was an integral member of his church community, and possessed a voracious appetite for both knowledge and golf. He traveled to all 7 continents, taking pleasure in visiting the places that the 18th century explorer James Cook had once been. A deeply spiritual man with great humor and wisdom, his love and concern for others will be sorely missed. The memorial service will be Saturday, January 28th at 2:00 PM at the Youth Chapel, Onset Campgrounds.