A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was an employee of the McMinn County Highway Department, was a member of Union-McMinn Baptist Church and was volunteer for the Niota and Union Grove Fire Departments. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Nevdia Umphrey Cook, on Oct. 2, 2008; and one sister, Marilyn West.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Irene Clark Cook of Niota; one son, Dewayn Lee Cook and his fiancée, Melanie Sewell, of Sweetwater; one sister and brother-in-law, Janet Gail and Allen Galyon of Athens; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Roger Dale and Joyce Cook, Larry Dean and Vickie Cook and Danny Cook, all of Niota; his father, Jack Cook of Niota; three grandchildren, Brady Sewell, Kayleigh Cook and Tinslee Cook; and several special friends, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Union-McMinn Baptist Church with the Rev. Doug Alexander and the Rev. Ronnie Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Union-McMinn Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Jeff Derrick, Ryan Harris, Josh Davis, Joey Reed, Mark Plaster and Bryan Coffey. Robert Lowery will be an honorary pallbearer.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home.