George Franklin Cook

Three years ago today a whole families life changed forever. This is the 3rd anniversary of our Daddy's death. We knew it would be different, we just never knew how different. Daddy was born
September 26th 1923 to December 19 2004. Daddy was the oldest of 3 boys, his Mom died when the youngest was less than a year old. Daddy was around 6 at the time. Not having a Mom put a lot of responsibility on him at a young age. I'm afraid at this time Daddy learned a lot that he shouldn't have known. But times were hard and you can't drag 3 kids (1 a toddler,1 a baby) around when you're trying to work and just trying to get by.
So Grampa had 3 boys tagging along when he was making moonshine just to make ends meet. The boys also learned to fish and trap and to eat whatever they caught. The boys also learned to drink at an early age...not so good. Grampa also married a couple of times after that more trying to find someone to help raise the boys than for love I think. Growing up we had extra grandparents on both sides...we thought it was normal.
Daddy was a trouble maker...he would teach us something and here would come Mom and un-teach us...sometimes with a peach tree switch or a hedge switch. We learned at an early age that Mom did NOT need to know everything.LOL.
Growing up was a barrel of laughs with Daddy. He taught me to hunt and fish,how to work on cars,how a cigar tastes and how vodka and whiskey tasted too.I forgot he also let me chew tobacco......... This did not go over well with Mom at all. I quit right then too!!! This is the kind of
things that Daddy would do.
Daddy taught me how to change spark-plugs and the oil in the car, how to change and fix a flat tire. I liked it so much I went back to school and got my GED, then went on to take automotive.
Growing up we never had much, we got what we had by working and not taking welfare. We learned to like hard work from Mom and Dad. We were taught cooking and house-work and to do laundry in a wringer washer by Mom. We pumped our water for laundry and drinking and for bathes.So yes it was hard, especially in the winter.Wood had to be cut, split and brought in everyday. Fires had to be kept going all night , and some mornings the water would have ice on it in the buckets and the wash pan. We had an outdoor toilet that would make you do your business in a hurry in the winter, and stink you out and burn you up in the summer.
In Daddy's middle years he started going to church with Mom and the younger girls. The girls started first, Mom followed and Dad followed her. Dad had his own ideas about the Bible and lived his own way. But he believed in God, I'm happy to believe he's in Heaven. I think Daddy decided to go first so he'd be waiting for Mom when she followed him 4 months later. That's one time Dad lead and Mom followed LOL. Dad always thought he was THE MAN of the house. But we knew who had the rod. She wasn't afraid to use it either.She wasn't above keeping him in line at times either.
Here's a toast and a prayer to our Dad: We had our good times and our bad, we grew as a family and grew up. We loved, fought, cried, laughed, and sang together on Sundays at home with you both. We miss ya'll just as much today as we did 3 years ago. I pray that someday we'll all join together again around the big eating table in the sky. I know we'll be joined by all our loved ones who have gone before us, I can hardly wait!!! I love you Daddy, I miss you. Please tell Mom and the grandma's and grandpa's we miss them too!!!
We'll be seeing you soon, save a place for us, and don't eat all the cake!!!.
I Love you Daddy :) Donna