James Henry "Jimmy" Cook

James Henry “Jimmy” Cook, of Groesbeck, passed away at home on Monday, April 10, 2017, following a lengthy period of poor health. He was 75. A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 14, 2017 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Steve Nance of the First United Methodist Church of Groesbeck officiating. Jimmy was born September 16, 1941 in Groesbeck to James Elgin Cook and Antoinette Ahlers Cook. Jimmy was drafted into the U. S. Army, during the Viet Nam period, and served in Germany. He attended SMU. In 1961, he returned to Groesbeck to open a saddle shop, Gro-Tex Saddlery, which was located in his grandfather, A.H. Ahlers’ store, Ahlers Hardware and Saddle Shop. Later, Jimmy worked in construction and then developed a remote-control car business where he assembled the cars from kits and had a race-track for the public to race the cars. Jimmy helped his Dad in his cattle ranching, and in later years, Jimmy spent many hot summers baling hay for the public. Jimmy and Brenda operated a steak house in Groesbeck for a few years. Jimmy enjoyed visiting and talking with the public, and during the lasts years, enjoyed talking with friends especially at Mary’s Breakfast and Burger Barn. His mother always said “he would talk to anything that wouldn’t walk off.” Jimmy had many talents and was able to do many different types of work in his life. His children were his greatest joy. Jimmy was proud of his three older girls and the two boys who were born after the girls were grown. He took great pride that the boys were always with him whatever he was doing. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, Elgin and Antoinette Cook; a son, Anthony Brian Cook; and brother-in-law, Tom Longbotham. He is survived by his sons, Andrew Brandon Cook, of Groesbeck and a student at Texas A&M, and Ashton Bay Cook of Groesbeck; three daughters and sons-in-law: Kelly and Pat Trilli of New Mexico, Alisa Bay and John Smith of Crawford, and Amy Beth and Jodi Maddox of Crawford; ten grandchildren; one great grandchild; sister, Martha Longbotham of Groesbeck; and sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Jack Gibson of Haslet; and many nieces and nephews.