Anson Douglas Cooke

Anson Douglas Cooke, aged 69, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away on April 15, 2024 in North Chesterfield, Virginia after battling pancreatic cancer for two years. His final 5 weeks of life were spent in hospice care at his daughter's home in Moseley, Virginia.

Born on February 16, 1955, in Stillwater Oklahoma, Anson is predeceased by his partner of over seven years, Joy Morra, his parents Anson R. and Catherine C. (Murphy).

Anson graduated from North Penn High School in Hatfield Pennsylvania and went on to earn a bachelor degree in Environmental Science from William Paterson University in New Jersey, graduating in three years.

Anson's career was focused on chemical formulation, working for Union Carbide, Rhone Poulenc, Aventis, Bayer, and NuFarm. He retired in 2019 from NuFarm as the Acting Director for Formulation Chemistry in the United States. During his career, he traveled both internationally and throughout the United States in a mixture of business and pleasure, visiting Europe, Australia, and the majority of US National Parks.

A man of many talents and passions, Anson's interests included playing bridge with a longterm group of close friends, tennis, wrestling, swimming, and playing multiple musical instruments (bass clarinet, baritone sax, and piano). Anson competed in bowling, roller-skating, and pinball tournaments. His greatest lifelong passion was chess, which he started playing at the age of six. He went on to win the Class A Division at the 1978 World Open as well as the New York Open.

Friends remember him as an affable character full of humor and wit and can attest; he was fun-loving and always up for an adventure.

Anson is survived by two daughters (Jennifer Weaver of Moseley, VA and Barbara Minton of Chapel Hill, NC), one granddaughter (Seraphina Minton of Chapel Hill, NC), one sister (Paula Cooke of Colorado Springs, CO), two brothers (James Cooke of Cary, NC and Dwayne Cooke of Highlands Ranch, CO), one half-brother, and five nieces/nephews.

There will be no official services per Anson's final wishes. A celebration of life will be held for family and friends who wish to share memories, food, and say final goodbyes on Saturday, May 4th, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Unity Center for Peace in Chapel Hill located at 8800 Seawell School Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.