Ernest Joseph Cook, Jr.

COOK Funeral services were held on Friday, September 26, 2008 at a 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Lafayette for Ernest Joseph Cook, Jr., D.D.S., 77, who died on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Reverend Keith Landry, Celebrant and Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Broussard, along with Reverend Blaine Clement, Concelebrant and Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church in Lafayette conducted the Funeral Mass. Lectors were Michele Martinez, Theresa Domingue, Patrick Huval and Cathy L. Wetzel. Giftbearers were Maureen Smith Lockhart and Denise Smith Domingue. Rachel Gaspard, soloist, accompanied by Andrea Courville, organist, sung "Here I Am Lord", "Be Not Afraid", "Spirit Song", and "Sing A New Song" for the services. Interment will be today, Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 12:00 PM in Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans, LA. Saturday visitation will be held at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA from 11:00 AM until time of graveside services. Reverend Gerard LaPorte, C.S.S.R. (Cousin of the deceased) will conduct the graveside services. He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Patricia Smith Cook, M.D. of Maurice, LA and New Orleans, LA; first cousins, Shirley Lutz of Mandeville, LA and Catherine Sadler Carpenter of Alexandria, VA; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, William J. Smith, Jr. and Thoy of Denver, CO, Maureen Smith Lockhart of Metairie, Judith Smith McDonald and Patrick of Metairie, Theresa Smith Barrios and Cyril of Austin, TX, T. Michael Smith and Joan of Baton Rouge and Denise Smith Domingue and Louis of Lafayette; his nieces and nephews; and many grand nieces, grand nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Joseph Cook, Sr. and Claire Sadler Cook of New Orleans. A native of New Orleans, LA and a lifetime resident of New Orleans, Dr. Cook was a parishioner of St. Maria Goretti Parish for 36 years until Katrina. His home in New Orleans East, Spring Lake, was so severely damaged that he and his wife took residence in Maurice near relatives. He later became a patient in Evangeline Oaks Guest Home. He was a graduate of Jesuit High School, attended LSU undergraduate school, and graduated from Loyola University of the South School of Dentistry in 1955. He served in the United States Air Force as Captain, with a tour of duty in the Northeast Air Command in Greenland. He entered full time private practice of Family Dentistry in 1957 in New Orleans and Metairie, until he retired from Dentistry in 1995. He was an avid fisherman, duck hunter and trainer/handler of his yellow Labrador retrievers, some of whom attained AKC and UKC National titles. He was an active member and held offices in the Pontchartrain Hunting Retriever Club for many years until his illness. He served as President of the Spring Lake Homeowners Association. In the early 1980's he indulged his wife's passion for figure skating and the Figure Skating Club of New Orleans by becoming a co-owner of Ice Sports Pavilion in Jefferson Parish, and was active in the building, management and maintenance of the facility, even learning to operate the Zamboni machine to resurface the ice. For many years he served on the Boards of the New Orleans and Louisiana Associations for Retarded Citizens devoted to their goals. In 1998 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ARC of Greater New Orleans. His greatest devotion was to his activities in the Knights of Columbus. His father had been a member of N.O Council 714, and his uncle of Council 1905. Dr. Cook joined Cardinal Gibbons Council 2918 in 1957, and served as recorder, chancellor, and Grand Knight. He functioned as State and Supreme Convention Chairman, co-chairman of Y. E. P., General Program Chairman, State Council Activity Chairman, District Deputy, State Treasurer and State Secretary. In 1982-1984, he was elected as the 38th State Deputy for the Louisiana Jurisdiction, during which time record accomplishments were achieved. Following this, he became a director of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council Board of Directors, serving the maximum 9 years. This gave him the opportunity to have several private audiences with the Pope, and also with Mother Theresa. An especially important moment for me as a Catholic and a Knight was receiving Holy Communion from Pope John Paul II at the Papal Mass held in New Orleans in September, 1987. He was a member of Darro Caravan. He served as Vice-Supreme Master of Bienville Province of the Fourth Degree of the K of C and became a Knight of St. Gregory the Great in 1989. He was a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and Commander in the Order of the Fleur-de-Lis with life membership. Dr. Cook was a loving husband, cousin, uncle and friend to all. His love and wit will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Pallbearers for the Lafayette service were Louis Domingue, Michael Smith, David Lockhart, Billy Martinez, Mark Domingue, Brian Domingue and Tommy Lockhart. Pallbearers for the New Orleans service will be Louis Domingue, Patrick Ray, David Lockhart, Billy Martinez and Robert Parent. A Rosary was prayed on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette. Visitation was observed on Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Martin & Castille Funeral Home and on Friday at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Lafayette from 10:00 AM until time of services. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille, Lafayette, 337-234-2311

Published in The Times-Picayune from 9/24/2008 - 9/27/2008