Richard Cook

Bellmead, TX - Richard Henry Cook passed away on July 11, 2024 at his residence, The Atrium of Bellmead. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Oakcrest Funeral Home Chapel, 4520 Bosque Blvd. Waco, TX, with a brief graveside ceremony to follow at Oakwood Cemetery, 2124 S.5th Street Waco, TX. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Richard, a loving husband, father and grandfather was born on January 22, 1936 to the late Rev. Richard Edward and Annie May (Patterson) Cook of Denton, TX. Richard was the second of three children and attended school in Denton where he was an honor student and a sergeant in the DHS marching band.

Richard met Allyne Childs while attending college at North Texas State University in Denton, TX where they fell in love and married in June of 1956. Richard graduated from NTSU with a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts.

Richard and Allyne lived in Washington, DC where Richard served in the US Army as a draftsman, and their daughter Elizabeth was born. Upon Richards' discharge from the Army they settled in Denton, TX where their second daughter Patricia was born.

Richard was an active member of Grace Temple Baptist and later First Baptist Church in Denton. He was very active in the church, especially his Sunday school group. Richard had a fulfilling career as the owner of Ri-Co enterprises where he designed and built custom cabinetry. Richard and Allyne also owned Cook’s Red Barn Antiques in Denton for many years before retiring to travel and spend time with their children and grandchildren. Richard was a master carpenter and had a life-long love of travel, fishing and the Rocky Mountains as well as all things western. He was a true Texas cowboy at heart.

Richard loved being a father and grandfather. Faith and family were always his main priorities. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Richard Edward and Annie Mae (Patterson) Cook, his beloved wife Allyne, his sister Bobbie Trousdale and his brother Edward Cook. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Cook, his daughter and son in law Patricia and Todd Gullekson, grandchildren Katy Flanagan Barnes, Ryan Flanagan, Bailey Vetterick, Dakota Vetterick, Cassidy Grace Vetterick, and a great granddaughter Harper June Barnes as well as many nieces and nephews.

Richard will be deeply missed by his family and friends and all who knew him. We know he is reunited with mom now in heaven, standing together at the top of God's mountain with a fishing pole in his hand. We love you so much Dad.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will live with the Lord forever.” Surely His house for Richard is in the Mountains.

Richard, my son
Your days on Earth are done,
Welcome to Heaven, you are allowed to pass,
Enjoy that first cast into water that is glass!

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” is what the Lord said on Richard’s homecoming day. You have earned your Heaven who now has another angel, and this we all know. He will be casting a line at the base of the mountain.

The life that Richard lived is the Legacy he leaves behind for all of us. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 says “Three things will last forever - Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest is Love” The Love that Richard showed and spread is the legacy he left us.