James E. Cook

Cook, James E. (Jim)
James E. (Jim) Cook, author of ten books about Arizona, died January 10, 2012, at Wickenburg, Arizona, surrounded by family and friends. Cook always claimed Peoria, Arizona as his hometown, but he was actually born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. He graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1953, and received a bachelor's degree from Arizona State College at Flagstaff (now NAU) in 1958. Cook worked 32 years for the Arizona Republic. His happiest years were spent roaming the state, gathering articles for Arizona, the newspaper's rotogravure magazine. He also wrote many free lance magazine articles. In 1981, Cook received from NAU and the Associated Press the Robert R. Eunson Alumni Achievement Award in Journalism. In 2005, Cook and his brother, songwriter Dean Cook, were named Arizona Culturekeepers for their part in keeping alive the lore and history of Arizona. After retirement, he claimed the title of "Official Arizona State Liar" and founded the "Wickenburg Institute for Factual Diversity." His "Journal of Prevarication" found many readers on the Internet. Cook's tenth book, "Half a Sack of Cats," was published in 2011. It tells the story of Cook being dragged from pillar to post iin Arizona as it existed in the 1940's. He is survived by his wife, Eleanore Hartz-Cook; three children: Julie Wullkotte Burgit (Richard), Kenneth Cook (Joanne) and Kevin Cook; sister Wanda Martin and brother Dean Cook (Janet); six grandchildren: Jessica Collins (Christopher), Jennifer Wullkotte, Jacqueline Zawacky (P.B.), Seth Wullkotte and Chandler Cook; six great grandchildren: Liam, Iris, and Lelah Garrigan and Jazlyn, Jayla and Patrick Zawacky; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Ruby Cook of Yarnell, Arizona, and first wife, Jerry Trammell Cook. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 18, at Deer Valley Church, 15220 N. 39th Avenue (at Greenway), in Phoenix. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Friends of the Wickenburg Public Library, or the Wickenburg Humane Society.