James Cook

James (Jim) Russell Cook

June 22, 1941 - July 11, 2012

SILETZ - James "Jim" Russell Cook, 71, of Siletz, Ore. died of natural causes on July 11, 2012 at his home.

He was born June 22, 1941 to George and Anita (Reed) Cook in North Plains, Ore. Jim served in the Army and was part of the Korean Conflict.

Some of Jim's children referred to him as a "wandering warrior" due to the number of places he lived and worked throughout his life. Jim lived in California, Washington, Arizona, and Alaska, but always returned to his home state of Oregon.

In the 1970s Jim was a member of the Siletz Pre-Council and was a leader to get the Siletz Tribe nationally recognized as the second tribe in the nation. He was proud of the work he did on behalf of the tribe.

Jim worked at many jobs. He was a roofing contractor, owned his own taxi business, worked in the logging industry, and helped others combat addiction as a drug and alcohol counselor. Jim recently celebrated his own 42nd anniversary of sobriety.

Jim loved watching his grandchildren dance at the Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow and would make it a point to return from Alaska every year for the pow-wow. He enjoyed cribbage and pinochle. He was a wonderful storyteller.

Jim had a love and reverence for nature. He enjoyed fishing but didn't like to eat fish. He also liked to tinker with cars and trucks.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Bruce Gerard; sisters, Geraldine Rose Jordan and Louise Gerard-Streets; and his parents, George and Anita Cook.

He is survived by his sister Mary Joyce Bill-Gerard of Kentucky and brother Raymond Gerard of California. Survivors also include his children, James (Gwen) Cook Jr. of McMinnville, and Edward Cook of Tualatin; George Cook of Salem, Sharmon (Stephan) Cook-Wright of Salem, Marietta (Steffen) Cook-Larsen of Denmark; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Jim's life and accomplishments will be 11 am, Saturday, July 28, at the Siletz Community Center, followed by burial at Paul Washington Cemetery. A second memorial will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska in August.

Bateman Funeral Home is handling arrangements.