James Roderick Cook

Jim was born on April 25th 1921 in Eureka, CA. He grew up a young cowboy, working the family ranch in Petrolia. The Cook/O'Leary Family were the earliest settlers in the Petrolia valley. Jim told stories of driving sheep from South Mayde to Petrolia, and one rancher recalled, young 9 year old Jim coming and negotiating the cost of sheep. He was truly a man at a young age with wisdom that only Jim could possess. He told stories of pushing cattle from the ranch to the train station at Fernbridge. Jim loved nothing more than a long days work. Jim married his wife Loie Jean Lanini on August 9th, 1947. They had seven children. In 1958 they purchased the families ranch in Bear River, and moved their family over there. Jim was an active member of Native Sons of the Golden West, as well as the Humboldt Swiss Club, & Humboldt Wool Growers Assoc. He was always a supporter of Ferndale Youth and Ferndale High School Football, and was extremely proud to watch both his son Francis, and grandson Jim coaching. He was a life long member of St Patrick's Church in Petrolia, a past President of Humboldt/Del Norte County Cattlemen's Assoc, a member of the Buckeye Conservancy, and a charter member of the Bear River Regional Resource Conservancy. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, George Cook & Daisy O'Leary Cook, his wife Loie Jean Cook, and his brother Joseph Cook, his Daughters Mary Linda, Catherine Frances Cook, & Margaret Anne Vevoda, as well as his grandsons John Louis Vevoda & Sammy Holt. Jim is survived by his wife Margot Casanova Wells, brother Francis Cook, and children; George (Pam), Annette Holt (Gene), Louis (Debby), Francis (JoAnn), his Grandchildren; Joseph & Robert Vevoda (soon to be wife Ashley Titus), Jim Cook (Janelle), Catherine Sundquist (Andy), Laci Cook, Marta & Daniel Cook, Bryan, Jordan, & Patrick Holt. Great Grandchildren Chezney Kay Sundquist, Jasmine Holt, and soon to be baby girl Cook, as well as his loyal dog Bandit, who was by his side until the very end. Jim never knew a stranger. The friends and extended family he was survived by are far too many to name. He lived a good 90 years and in the end it was the love of friends and family, and a strong faith in God that helped him find peace. On October 11th, 2011, the day before his 15th wedding anniversary, Jim grew wings and flew away to heaven above. There will be a celebration of life in Jims honor on Friday October 21st at 1:00 in the afternoon at the Central Park Ranch in Bear River. Friends and family are invited to attend and share stories of Jim's life. There will be a potluck directly following the celebration, so please bring your favorite story about Jim, and a dish to share. Contributions can be made in Jims name to "Friends of St Patrick's of Petrolia." Jim's life dream was to see the Petrolia Church restored, and now it is our job to continue to see that his dream lives on. Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click obits.