Samuel Wilburn Cook, Jr.

1925-2007 Family Genealogy
Sam Wilburn Cook Jr. of Miami died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at Miami Nursing Center. He was 81.

Cook was born Aug. 12, 1925, in Tahlequah to Sam W. and Rosa (Hancock) Cook, Sr.

He worked for Safeway for 27 years. He, along with his wife, owned and operated Oklahoma Farmers Union Insurance Agency for 27 years. He served as Ottawa County Commissioner for one term. He served as secretary for Ottawa County Farmers Union Local No. 79. He was a member of Ottawa Indian Baptist Church.

He married Anna Marguerite Henrick, on May 12, 1944, they were divorced about 1963. He married Bettie Pogue on Jan. 18, 1964. She preceded him in death on Dec. 28, 2001.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Murriel Cook, Donald Cook, Marion Cook and Charles Cook, and two sisters, Vivian Sims/ Akins and Ruth Ann Bogar/White.

Survivors include four sons and their wives, Alvin L. and Linda Cook of Quapaw, Harold Melvin Cook and Sam W. and Ethel Cook III, all of Miami, and James and Melissa Adams of Sapulpa; two daughters and their husbands, Darlene and Frank Carmi of Palm Desert, Calif., and Paula and Gary Neagle of El Paso, Texas; two brothers and their wives, Carl and Rose Cook of Moore and Bill and Judy Cook of Carson City, Nev.; one sister and her husband, Betty and David Tautfest of Ponca City; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami with the Rev. Keith Wison officiating. Burial will be in G.A.R. Cemetery in Miami

Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Ottawa Indian Baptist Church, 61400 E. 115 Road, Miami, OK 74354 or Heaven and Earth Hospice, 3 S. Main, Miami, OK 74354.

Miami News-Record, Friday, February 16, 2007 2:47 PM EST

James R. Adams (July 17, 1956 - February 22, 2010) James arrived in the world in the wee morning hours of July 17, 1956, in San Bernardino, Ca. He was the 3rd child and only son born unto Charles Ralph and Bettie Lorena Adams. While still a small child, his parents divorced, and James, his mother and sisters relocated to Northeast Oklahoma where his mother's family resided and eventually settled in Miami. James grew up in Miami doing things most young boys his age did. Some of his fondest childhood memories were of times he shared with his grandparents, Rufus and Leta Pogue. These memories included making homemade ice cream, attending rodeos, livestock sales, and earning spending money helping Grandma Leta with her egg route. He also became an accomplished horseman and considered himself a real cowboy!

In 1964 his mother married Sam Cook, Jr., and the family moved to a farm south of Miami and raised dairy cattle. Eventually James and family moved into Miami where he played Little League baseball, rode bicycles, and participated in general mischief. As he grew into a teenager, bicycles gave way to motorcycles, playing became working and general mischief became searching for grand adventure.

At the tender age of 17, James enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Mississinewa as a Boiler Technician and was honorably discharged in 1974.

After discharge, James set about finding his niche in life and along the way met a young woman named Cindy whom had an infant daughter named Holly that he helped raise. Holly and James became as father and daughter and remained close throughout his life.

James' chosen profession was brick mason and he was a skilled craftsman who took great pride in his work. He eventually settled in St. Louis, MO where he resided for 20 years, became a proud member of the Bricklayer's Local No. 1 of St Louis, as well as the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. He was employed by Grant Bricklaying Co., Inc. for a number of years, working on many projects in the St. Louis area including the award winning Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School. In 2003 James returned to Oklahoma to share life with his childhood sweetheart, Melissa Conner, whom he had known since grade school and with whom he had always maintained a true friendship. James and Melissa married, each for the first time, in 2006 when both were 50 years of age. He continued his career in masonry working on such projects as the OU Schusterman Center as well as the renovations of the OSU and TU football stadiums while in the employment of Advanced Masonry, Inc.

James had a great zest for life, was an avid bass fisherman, an excellent cook, considered amongst his friends as "King of the Grill". Those who knew James were drawn by his dry wit, ready smile, sense of adventure and loyalty to those he loved. He was generous of spirit, kind in deed, and will be greatly missed by all.

James was preceded in death by his father Ralph, mother Bettie, step-father Sam and his beloved dachshund Dude.

Survivors include his wife Melissa, daughter Holly Page and husband Joshua of Fordland, MO; sisters Linda Carmi and husband Frank of Palm Desert, CA; Paula Neagle and husband Gary of El Paso, TX; step-brothers Alvin Cook of Quapaw, OK; Melvin Cook, Sam Cook and wife Ethel of Miami, OK; grandchildren Trevor, Mason and Jasmine as well as a host of nieces, nephews and long time friends. Visitation will be Thursday, February 25th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami, OK with services to be held at 1:00pm Friday, February 26th at the Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami, OK. Interment at G.A.R Cemetery. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society; specify Lung or Breast Cancer Research as well as Sojourn Care Hospice, 9910 E. 42nd Street S., Suite 101, Tulsa, OK 74146. Services are under the direction of the Paul Thomas Funeral Home of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com Posted: 5/26/2010