Picture of the day - April 14, 2008

Uncle Herbert

Photo by Cheria Rouse. Holidays at Cheria's Aunt Eleanor's house usually went something like this: People slowly begin arriving, saying their hellos and getting their hugs. Before long folks are sitting most everywhere there is a place to sit, and everyone is excitedly catching up on the things that have happened since we all got together last time. Then all of a sudden the door bursts open and a tall, imposing figure of a man walks in. The life of the party has arrived. It's time for the real fun to begin! I have known Herb Cook for quite some time, and I can honestly say I have never seen him enter someone's home without a big smile on his face. He was always ready to crack a joke or tell a story, and he absolutely loved to pick on the "girls" by referring to their petticoats as "pettisnippers". This gentle man had a heart as big as he was tall, and he never let the fact that he was an octogenarian keep him from doing the things he loved: Fishing, dancing and making everyone around him crack a smile. It was always hard to feel down and out whenever Uncle Herb was around. Like her other "brothers and sisters", Herb was more like a big brother than an uncle to Cheria. She absolutely loved sitting around the house with the rest of the Cook family as they sang a bunch of wonderful old hymns, and Herb could sure sing with the best of them! And he did love to sing - in fact, he was singing in his hospital bed just the other day. A couple of years ago Herb suffered a stroke, and as strokes often do it changed his life in several ways. But a couple of the things it didn't change was the ever-present smile on his face and the friendly joking around that we all loved about this very special man. As time passed he slowly grew weaker and quite frail, and a few weeks ago he found himself in the hospital. The news wasn't good, but Herb wasn't afraid to face whatever God had in His master plan for the rest of his days on planet earth. You see, he was prepared to meet his Lord, and he knew that when the inevitable came to pass that he would draw his last breath down here and immediately take his first one in the presence of the Father. He had lived a long, happy life, and he was ready to go on home. That moment came at approximately 5:00 this morning. Today is Uncle Herb's birthday, and God saw fit to let us all enjoy his life and love for exactly 85 years, almost to the hour. The world was a better place with Herb Cook in it, and now God has one more singer in His heavenly choir.  In loving memory of Herbert Eugene Cook April 14, 1923 - April 14, 2008     Visitor Comments... Name: Phyllis Helton Town: Bristol, VA My sympathies and my congratulations. My sympathy on losing him and congratulations on having him with you for so lon Click here to leave a comment.   Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!                                 Place the "Picture of the Day" on your website, for free! Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"