Donald Ray "Guitar Man" Cook

Funeral services for Donald Ray "Guitar Man" Cook, 59, of Pollok will be held Friday, May 20, 2011 at 10 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Sam Blair and Keith Kendrick officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Mr. Cook was born September 10, 1951 in Lufkin, Texas to the late Lois (Smitheart) and Leo Cook, and died Monday, May 16, 2011 at his residence. A former resident of Diboll, he had resided in Pollok for 7 1/2 years. He was a Vietnam Veteran, retiring from the U.S. Army following 22 1/2 years of service. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Cook of Pollok; daughters and son-in-law, Sandra Cook of Lufkin, Sharon Nieves of Pollok, Billie Jean Silva of Mililani, Hawaii and Krista and Phil Hamilton of Sparta, Wisconsin; sons and daughters-in-law, Jaime and Rebecca Nofsinger of Wells and John and Cindy Degner of Minnesota; 19 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Shirl and Irene Cook of Tyler, Jerry Cook of Ratcliff and Bobby and Judy Cook of Lafayette, Louisiana; sister, Nelda Hefley of Tyler; mother-in-law, Merilyn Nofsinger of Norwalk, Wisconsin, first wife and fiancé, Donnie Chandler and Cliff Uyeno of Mililani, Hawaii; special friends, Roy Teal of Missouri, Robert Nunn of Hudson, Sam and Trish Blair of Lufkin, A.J. and Betty Ramos of Houston and Daryl and Ruby Brecheen of Huntington; and numerous other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, Mr. Cook was preceded in death by his son, Sam Cook; great-grandson, Justin D. Helton, Jr., brothers, Joe Lynn Cook and Frank Rushing; and sister, Lavern Jones. Pallbearers will be Jaime Nofsinger, John Degner, Christopher Cook, Christian Cook, Justin Helton and Robert Haak. Honorary pallbearers will be Leonard Peterson, Shane Gordon, Alan Wilson, Phil Hamilton, Pat Montes and Billy Griffis. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice in the Pines, 116 South Raguet Street, Lufkin, Texas 75904. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.