Tributes to Cleo Earl Cook #3

Tribute to Cleo Earl Cook

by his son

Theron Earl Cook

Theron Earl Cook

Theron Earl Cook

     





















     I will always remember the many fishing trips Dad would take us on.  He always took us out to Camas Creek.  He would fix us kids fishing poles out of sticks and line and we would fish around the camp.  Frank and I would stay together and pretty close to our camp.  I can remember when we would catch a fish, we were always so proud and Dad would always make us feel important.

Theron and Frank

     I can remember the time Dad took me to Mud Lake fishing and he caught the big fish that won him the Big Fish and Lucky Trout Contest.  I was so excited about him catching his fish.  It weighed 11 lbs. 12 oz.  When he finally got this fish in, he was really tickled about his success.  I was so proud of my Dad.  I knew he was the greatest fisherman in the world.  I can remember many many great fishing trips with Dad.  I really think Dad could have fished in a mud puddle and caught fish.

            I remember many great trips to Yellowstone Park.  The great time we had camping and fishing.  I also remember Joyce and I getting lost on one of these special campouts.  It was so great to finally see Mom and Dad after wondering through the trees and dark for so long.  Mom and Dad were so great to us when we were finally found.

Theron and Frank

     I also remember when we lived in Rigby and Mom and Dad would take us swimming in the Dry Bed.  We would go down by the bridge and Mom and Dad would swim while us kids mostly played around.  It was fun and enjoyable.

Cleo, Ruth, Theron and Frank

     I also remember working in the potatoes for Dad.  I was so small I had to kneel on the truck seat to steer the truck.  I would steer it down the rows between the sacks of potatoes. When I would get to the other end of the field Dad, Uncle Carl or Uncle Melburn would jump in the truck and turn it around and start it down another row of potato sacks.  I would sometimes not be paying enough attention and would run over or into a sack of potatoes and they would let me know I was day dreaming or falling asleep.

Theron and Joyce

     I can also remember tramping wool for Dad while they were shearing sheep.  After Dad threw a few bundles of wool in the big sacks, I was to get in the sack and tramp it down.  If I got behind or wasn’t doing what I was supposed to, Dad would wait until I was in the wool sack and then he would throw a bundle of wool on me.  It never hurt, but it was greasy and would sure make me mad.  Dad would always say, “If you will keep busy and stop playing around, I wouldn’t toss these bundles on you.”

Ruth and Cleo

     I also remember hauling loose hay.  I would have to walk around on the hay to pack it down, while Dad and Uncle Wayne threw the hay on the wagon.  I didn’t like doing it, so I would complain a lot; so after while either Dad or Uncle Wayne would drop some hay on me.  I would get so mad.  Dad would really laugh and get a kick out of making me so mad.  But they wouldn’t let me off the wagon.

     Dad was always very supportive of us kids as we participated in different sports.  He and Mom would be to all of our games.  Mom usually kept score.  I will always remember when we were playing softball in the regional tournament in Idaho Falls.  We were one player short.  Dad got a mitt and played with us in two different games.  I was so proud to be playing with my Father, and I was proud of the great job he did.

     Dad was always so even tempered.  He just took everything in stride.  He didn’t always agree with everything, but he would just go along and then do what he wanted or thought was what needed to be done.

Ruth and Cleo

     Cleo Earl Cook was one of the best husbands and Dads to ever be on the earth.  Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.  He was truly a great Dad of whom I am very proud to be his son.

Cleo

Theron Earl Cook