H. Leon Cook, Jr.

Herman Leon Cook, Jr., age 72, formerly of Clemmons, NC, passed away June 4, 2025. Leon was born in Winston-Salem, NC on August 5, 1952. He is survived by his mother, Ruth Holland Cook of Worthington, OH; two sisters, Kay Cook Kendall (Ed) of St. Charles, IL; Jennifer Cook Haddow (Mike) of Upper Arlington, OH; his best friend and former wife, Ann Miller of Lenoir, NC; six nieces and nephews, Laura Kendall Zimmermann (Geoff) of Aurora, IL; Thomas Kendall (Margie) of Johnson City, TN; Kyle Lookreddy (Esha) of Portland, OR; Amy Kendall of Seattle, WA; Kelly Haddow and Christopher Haddow of Upper Arlington, OH; five great-nieces and nephews; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends throughout the world. Leon was preceded in death by his father, Herman Leon Cook, Sr., Worthington, OH; his grandparents, J. Thomas and Flossie Brewer Cook of Clemmons, NC; Burke E. Holland, Kinston, NC; and Iva Ressler Holland, Hegins, PA, and by several dear aunts, uncles, and cousins. Leon never met a stranger as he traveled the world. If you knew him, you were his friend.

Leon was a 1970 graduate of West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, NC; a veteran of the U.S. Navy; and a 1978 graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied music under the tutelage of Jesus Silva, completing a Bachelor of Music with emphasis in classical guitar. Leon retired from the U.S. Postal Service in January 2013 after more than 27 years, working first in the Boone, NC, postal system, and completing his career in Old Orchard Beach, ME. In addition to his appreciation for the arts, he was an avid kayaker, camper, hiker and traveler. In recent years he studied Spanish fervently. He enjoyed photography, documenting his many trips with stunning photographs he shared on social media. He enjoyed all genres of music: studying it, listening, watching live performances, and he always kept a guitar nearby.

A memorial service will be held at the Historic Broyhill Center (Old Clemmons School), 3540 Clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on September 27, 2025 at 11:00 am. A reception and sharing of memories will follow.

Donations may be made in Leon's memory to the Blue Ridge Conservancy, https://blueridgeconservancy.org/; or donor's choice of charity.