Michael Cooke

Michael S. Cooke VIRGINIA BEACH - Michael Sheppard Cooke, 46, went home to be with his lord Oct. 27, 2009. He was born May 11, 1963, in Brawley, Calif. He was special even as a baby. His brother, Donald Dickson Cooke arrived 18 months later. His father, Donald Eugene Hall lives in Glendale, Ariz., and his mother, Dickson Cooke Schaefer is of Jackson, Wyo., and Virginia Beach. In August of 1973, Dickson moved Michael and Donnie to Jackson, Wyo., where Michael fell in love with the mountains, skiing, hiking, and camping. Michael attended the Old Wilson School and the Jackson Middle School until he returned to Virginia Beach and graduated from First Colonial High School where he played on the tennis team. He graduated from Dean Junior College, and attended Virginia Wesleyan for three years. Michael was the food buyer for The Heritage Food Store for 16 years. Soon after going to work there, he met the love of his life. He and Carol were married and adopted two Maltese puppies, who are well loved and treated like children. We are sure that all who knew Michael at the Heritage store will miss his smile and the wealth of helpful information he shared with his beloved customers. He is survived by his wife, Carol Dannheiser-Cooke; his brother, Donald D. Cooke and wife Deb; five nephews, Bailey and Graham Cooke, all of Fairfield, Conn., Christopher, Kevin, and Daniel Massey, all of Rhode Island; his aunts, Annie Sheppard Cooke of Carbondale, Colo., Grace Cooke and husband Clark Lusk of Couer d' Alene, Idaho and their son Sheppard Lusk and his wife Kelly of Boise, Idaho; two sisters-in-law, Diane Massey and Melanie Roeber. Michael was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Dorothy Sutherland, who adored Michael as did we all. Memorial services will be held in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, today at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Beach SPCA, 3040 Holland Road, Virginia Beach or to the Jackson Hole Land Trust, 555 E. Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001. Online condolences may be made at hdoliver.com.