Funeral services for Robert Edwin Cook,97, of Gold Hill, who died Friday, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Cinger-Morris Downtown Chapel. Elder E.L. Jolliffee will officiate. Committal will be in the Rock Point Cemetery. Conger-Morris Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Cook was born Dec. 17, 1877, in Red Oak, Iowa, the son of the late John and Emma Cook. On March 7, 1900, he married Ada Bottoms, who died in September, 1950. His second wife was Della Whitsett, who died in January, 1969. Mr. Cook then married Flora Price Cook in August, 1972.
Mr. Cook came to Oregon at the age of two and was raised by his grandparents at Foots Creek, after the death of his mother. He served as mayor of Gold Hill from 1924 to 1926 and was a selectman for several years. He was a miner here and in Northern California and a blacksmith.
He won first prize at the 1965 Oregon State Fair for building a miniature three-stamp ore cushion mill, which included a electrically'powered mill with all the gears and tooling handmade on his lathe.
His grandfather, Robert A. Cook, was county commissioner for Jackson County for two terms.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Mr. Cook built suction dredges for local miners, who were trying to make their living on the gold they found. Mr. Cook also helped build the Beaver Cement Plant in Gold Hill.
Survivors besides his wife include, one son, Alva Cook, Gold Hill; one daughter, Kathryn Lance, Gold Hill; one sister, Mrs. Sadie Swenson, Monrovia, Calif.; two brothers, Leslie A. Cook, Gold Hill, and Hardy Cook, Portland; five grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will include Harry Foley, Nathan Banry, Leslie Walker, Donald Morrow, Cavener Thompson and Wilmer Bailey.
Those who wish may pay their respects until 8:30 o'clock in the Conger-Morris Downtown Chapel.