Birth: March 4, 1986, in Lufkin, Texas
Death: January 12, 2009, in College Station. Texas while serving with the Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadre at Texas A & M University

Zachary Ryan "Zac" Cook

     Second Lt. Zachary Ryan "Zac" Cook, 22, of Lufkin, was born March 4, 1986, in Lufkin, Texas. He passed away Monday, January 12, 2009, in College Station. Texas. Zac was a 2004 graduate of Lufkin High School and a 2008 graduate of Texas A & M. He was a member of the Corp of Cadets, Company D1, the Parsons Mounted Calvary and the Brazos Union Masonic Lodge No. 129, Bryan, Texas. Zac was a beloved son, brother and friend. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army assigned to the Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadre at Texas A & M University. While in high school, Zac was an all-star baseball player, and was always willing to help out and teach kids at the baseball field. Zac is survived by his father and mother, David and Becky Cook of Lufkin; brother, Second Lieutenant David Cook, Jr. of Ft. Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma; grandparents, Loyd and Nelda Cook of Lufkin; and a number of aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. Expressions of sympathy in Zac's memory may be made to Parsons Mounted Calvary, c/o Bob Byrns, 1227 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843-1227; or to the Zac Cook Scholarship Fund (benefiting a baseball player), c/o the Lufkin High School Alumni Association, P. O. Box 150837, Lufkin, Texas 75915. Pallbearers will be Loren Head, Austin Pylant, Ben Huddelston, Marc Hurst, Andy Smedley, Isaac Sulemana, Blaine Junfin, Second Lieutenant David Cook, Jr., Jim Rhodes, Jeremy Pittman, Clay Gacke, Hall Henderson, Eric Bitner, Zach Womack, James Barker and Jose Cena. Services for Zac will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2009, at LufkinÕs First Baptist Church, with Dr. Nolan Duck and Dr. Andrew G. Pittman officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Gipson Funeral Home; W. A. Dempsey, Director.

Published in The Lufkin Daily News from Jan. 16 to Jan. 17, 2009