Born Jan. 6, 1943 at Everett General to Claude and Ethel Cook, John Earl Cook died Jan. 4, 2010.

He moved to Oak Harbor at the age of 3 and graduated from Oak Harbor High School. He took two years of college at Skagit Community College then graduated from Pacific Luthern University in June 1967. He started teaching fifth-grade at South Whidbey School District on Febuary 1967. He moved up to teaching sixth-grade the next year and taught sixth-grade for 17 years.

He was a member of the Langley United Methodist Church for a number of years and sang in a lot of church choirs. He stopped teaching in 1984 and became a Certified Nurse’s Assistant and worked mostly in home elderly care. He had a long-time live-in client, Jean. He retired due to medical reasons in 2005 when Jean died.

He died in his sleep at home in Longview, Wash., under the care of JoEllen Arnott, his daughter. He leaves behind his former wife, Ellen Cook; son John D. Cook; daughters Mareta Guererro and JoEllen Arnott; and seven grandchildren, David Cook, Daniel Cook, Kristin Pratt, Micheal Pratt, Devin Pratt, Sara Arnott and Caleb Arnott.