Stephen F. Cook

Stephen Fred Cook passed away on January 31, 2026 at the age of 74.

Steve was born on July 11, 1951 and spent every moment since that day in stoic service and love of an untold company of family and friends alike.

Steve worked as a devoted employee of U.S. Steel for 32 Years. He served as a heavy equipment operator and a foreman, impacting countless lives of Alabama steel workers before his retirement. All the while, he performed as a gifted musician in numerous venues and with a myriad of different bands and groups. This habit of music making is how he would meet his wife and eternal love, Beth Jones Cook. The two were married in the year 1980 and one year later bore their first child, Carolyn Anne Cook. Fast-forward to the year 2001, Steve and Beth would welcome their second child, Noah Stephen Cook.

After his retirement from U.S. Steel, Steve started his own HVAC company and would go on to serve family, friends, and countless other churches, businesses, and families of the community. All the way into his 60’s braving the Alabama summers, there leaves no question that what he was doing was called ‘service’. At the drop of a hat, he would appear behind your house with your unit uncovered and have the list of parts he needed to order. His love and care runs through many of our air ducts keeping us warm today. He did it all with “a sweat rag around his head and a cigar in his mouth” as Lydia has recently pointed out. His favorite way to keep company with family was at the kitchen counter, in a creaky chair with a hot cup of coffee. It was simple joys like this that fueled his hard work. He was a great teammate to his loving wife, Beth; an extra set of working hands for her own servant’s heart. He loved his children and their partners to a fault, making every sacrifice necessary to give them all the life he believed they ought to have. He adored his 2 granddaughters and cherished them in part as the fruit of those sacrifices. When in awe of the family he helped Beth create, he made it a point to tell them how proud he was of the people they are.

Steve was preceded in death by his wife, Angela Beth Jones Cook; his parents, Fred Cook and Etma Ann Cutts Cook; his sisters, Barbara Gail Cook and Toni McPherson; his nephew, Ricky Magouirk; his great nephew, Adam Magouirk; his father-in-law, Wayne Jones; his sisters-in-law, Jennifer Bullington, Cyndi Arnold, and Lauri Jones; his great-nephews, John Michael and JT Newsome; his great-niece, Katie Hardin; his niece, Jackie Norris; and his nephew, Scott Norris.

He is survived by his daughter, Cari Rivera (Luis Rivera); his son, Noah Cook (Becca Cook); his precious grandchildren, Chloe Rivera and Lily Rivera; and his sister, Jo Kirkpatrick (Joe Kirkpatrick), his brother, Chris Cook (Teresa Cook), all in the company of many extended family members and dear friends who will forever cherish his memory.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Dogwood Grove Baptist Church from 11:00 AM until 12 noon. The funeral service will begin at 12:00 noon with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Patterson Forest Grove Funeral Home family is honored to serve the Cook family during their time of bereavement. Expressions of sympathy and condolences may be shared at www.pattersonfuneralhomes.com.

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