Thomas E. Cook

January 1, 1939 – June 24, 2022

Thomas E. Cook, “Tom,” or T.C., was born on January 1, 1939, in Boyds, Wash., north of Colville.

Tom was born before World War II, and while his parents were busy working on the war efforts at Boeing Aircraft in Olympia, Wash., his mother, Alice Julia Enquist Ewell, was sewing parachutes for all the services and his stepfather was in the delivery of parachutes.

Tom attended his first years of school at Coulee City, Wash., where a lot of people were working on the famous Grand Coulee Dam. After his parents divorced when he was about 10, he moved to Colville, Wash., where he continued his grade school, finishing grades 1 through 5.

Tom was a wonderful whistler and loved to sing to himself in the bam while working. A friend, one day, heard him singing in the barn and immediately said to Tom, “What a lovely voice you have. Please come with me, and my daughter will play the piano and you sing.” Well, that started his “career.” Later on, he was included in many talent shows through the years. One time he was asked to sing on Spokane’s KXLY radio talent show. As a young man, he was asked to sing at school gatherings, dances, weddings, and funerals. He just loved to sing! “O, Danny Boy” and “Amazing Grace.” Tom was a very special guy to so many folks all his life and he will be dearly missed.

Ben Cook and Alice were married in Colville, Wash. Ben Cook was a very stable family man and gave the family what they needed to meet this world. Soon after the marriage, Ben Cook, who had no previous children, adopted all three children, Tom, Gary and Sandy. They all enjoyed the farm life for the first time, where they had cows, horses, pigs, chickens and rabbits, and in the summer months, they bailed the hay. Later, the “happy family” moved to Riggins, Idaho, in 1952, where Tom completed his high school in 1958.

After high school, he worked in the logging industry, and even got bucked off a few horses at the local rodeo. During this time, he got hooked on motorcycles and he enjoyed many great rides with friends, one time ending up on the pavement on his butt in his brother’s brand new $3.25 Levi’s, all ripped up to heck!

In 1961, he entered the 101st Army Airborne in Fort Campbell, Ky., where he found a love of the sky. He was honorably discharged in 1963. After his Army service, he entered the steel business, building tall office buildings all over. Tom was a good and hard worker. This later led to work in the airline business, where he built and repaired the walkways between the airport and the airplanes. Down the road, he got involved with other businesses and his final venture of “Loving the Sky” and his desire to learn how to fly. He was working on getting his license renewed at the time of his passing. He went up and took a ride every Tuesday. He was working on bringing back the excitement of the small airplanes in America with a partner, and they would find old planes and bring them back to refabricate.

He passed away in Nevada on June 24, 2022, at his sister’s home.

He was a friend to everyone. He helped everybody.

Rest in peace, Tom! Now, we will sing for you.

You’re flying high in the sky, Tom!

A Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Saturday, Aug. 13 at Atlanta Christian Church, 200 E. Main St., Atlanta. Family asks for those in attendance to wear a mask.