Robert Michael Cook

Walla Walla Valley Resident Bob Cook passed on March 11, 2019 at Spokane’s Sacred Heart Hospital as the result of a traumatic brain injury during a fall while on vacation near Kelowna, B.C.

Bob was born and raised in Walla Walla County.  At age two, as a complication of spinal meningitis, Bob suffered a profound and permanent hearing loss.  Despite this challenge, Bob attended Betty Shields’ Pre-School, Walla Walla Public Schools, Walla Walla Community College, Western Oregon University, Oregon State University earning degrees in psychology, speech pathology & audiology.  While attending Western Oregon Bob founded a non-profit club for the hearing impaired and tutored children with autism and other learning disabilities.

As a student in Greg Farrens’ WWCC Irrigation Technology Program, Bob accepted an internship at Horning Farms in Monroe, Oregon where he stayed on for many years and married Susan Hallet.  Bob loved raising their five children in the Willamette Valley and especially on the farm; the children were always his number one priority.

Following the divorce with Susan, Bob moved to Portland, successfully completed cochlear implant surgery which dramatically improved his hearing, and then started working at the Tigard’s Home Depot before transferring to Home Depot in College Place.

His friends and co-workers describe Bob as always willing to lend a helping hand, kind, caring, skilled craftsman, dear friend, and one who rarely said a negative word about anyone.  Bob was very private about his life challenges, accomplishments, including his contributions to youth activities & community causes.  During his last years, Bob loved volunteering at the Blue Mountain Food Bank.

Bob is survived by daughters Heather [John] Etcheverry and Kirstin [Zach] Posch and Sons, Garrett [Kaitlyn] Cook and Kolby Cook.  Nieces, Chelsea [Jared] Brown, Taylor Cook, and Kaci Fleming.  His seven Grand-Children, his special love Anna Chalmers Bostwick. and his Parents of 55 years, Cathy & Dick Cook.

Bob was preceded in death by his Grandparents Dorothy & Jay Cook and Paul & Leora Nice, Aunt Marlene Pursley, Son, Zachary Cook, only Brother, Gary Cook.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a Scholarship Fund for Bob’s Youngest Son Kolby Cook, or the Blue Mt. Food Bank, or a charity of your choice in care of  Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362;

Bob will be missed by all who knew him and remembered as a romantic, dreamer, poet & writer, craftsman, highly organized and one who loved music, oceans, sunsets and “one who helped us to be better. ”