JOHN LOCH COOK

01/10/1936 - 02/12/2023

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend John Loch Cook slipped quietly and unexpectantly into the hands of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, February 12, 2023. John met his three-year battle with throat cancer head on with determination and grace even though he was never able to speak a word again due to complications with two of his dozen surgeries. Katherine A. Hutcheson, Ph.D. Director of Speech Pathology at MD Anderson Hospital, never gave up trying to keep John comfortable. The hours she spent with him over the years were above and beyond anyone’s expectations. Her calls to our home to check on him brought us a treasured new friend. John was a born storyteller and we all learned to read his lips so he could continue to communicate with everyone and never miss a beat. Our home continued to be a gathering place for family and friends, despite the setback.

John was born in Crockett, TX, January 10, 1936, to Minnie Thompson Cook and George Loch Cook. John graduated from Crockett High School and received his Undergraduate and Law School Degrees from Southern Methodist University where his love and lifelong passion for his Ponies began. John moved to Houston shortly after graduation where he met his devoted wife, Susan Ferguson Cook. They immediately fell in love and were married within the year. John and Susan had two boys who were born and raised in Houston, William Loch Cook and The Reverend Robert Murray Cook.

John spent his entire career in banking and money management starting at The Bank of the Southwest and ending his career at Morgan Stanley. John was active in many organizations over his lifetime including Kappa Sigma Fraternity at SMU, Winant Volunteers (London), early member of The Tuesday Breakfast Club, Member of the Board of SMU National Alumni Association, Houston SMU Alumni Association and The SMU Mustang Club. One of Johns’ greatest pleasures were the friendships he made while playing golf for decades at Houston Country Club. Those lasting relationships were meaningful and cherished.

John and Susan were a team for 59 years. He was a very proud father of his two sons and daughters-in-law never failing to tell them he loved them dearly and what a great job each was doing. As Papa John to his grandchildren, he was an inspiration, a constant teacher of all things beautiful, an encourager, and a storyteller.

John was preceded in his death by his parents and brother, George Smith Cook.

He is survived by his wife Susan and his two sons and their wives: William Loch Cook and Lisa Laughlin Cook and grandchildren Carson Loch Cook, William Connor Cook and John Cameron Cook of Houston, TX and The Reverend Robert Murray Cook and Kimberly Sipe Cook and grandchildren Ann Claire Ferguson Cook Gaydos and husband Charles Conradt Gaydos, Robert Alexander Cook, and Alison Barkley Cook of Little Rock, AR.

John is also survived by his brother Lewis Nathanial Cook and wife Suzy, and Sister-in-law Cornella Cook all of Crockett. Along with Sisters and Brothers-in Laws Nancy Ferguson Drushel and William Haley Drushel, Jr., Carolyn Ferguson Means and Henry Furman Means, Jr. Also, numerous nieces and nephews and their families including Haley and Glen Eichelberger, Ellen Drushel, Martha Means and Henry and Aline Means. In addition, Alice Ann and Patrick Mc Duffee and Nellie and Joey Baker, David Loch Cook and Todd Cook.

A memorial service celebrating John’s life will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday the seventeenth of February in the Chapel at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston with The Rev. Dr. Leigh Spruill and The Rev. Dr. Douglas Richnow officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77019, St. Andrews Anglican Church, 8300 Kanis Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204, or Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750315, Dallas, TX 75275 with The Mustang Club in memorandum of John Loch Cook in the memo.

Although he was passionate about conversation, John was a quiet man in his faith that ran deep and wide.

You are precious in our sight, our beloved John. Amen.