Ira Ray Cook, a Chouteau County resident since 1928, passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. Merle Dewar, in Fort Benton, of a heart attack at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 20. He had been afflicted with a heart condition for the past several years. His passing came as a great shock to his family and friends.
Ira Ray Cook, son of John E. and Julia Nichols Cook was born at Blairsville, Georgia, on February 13, 1914. He spent his early boyhood in Georgia and came to Montana with his parents in 1928. Since that time he has farmed in the Montague section. January 27, 1941, he volunteered in service for his country and received his training in the states. Following his basic training period he was sent overseas to Bataan. He was made a prisoner of war following the fall of Bataan to the Japanese in May 1942. The following 30 months were spent in the prisoner of war camps of the Japanese. He was on the Bataan Death March and was later sent to Camp Hoten, Mikden, Manchuria, where the Japanese had large manufacturing plants and a labor camp. Those months were ones of suffering and hardships of every kind. After being liberated following the close of the war he was returned to the states in 1945. For his war service he was awarded the American defense medal; Purple Heart; Philippines defense bronze star; Asiatic-Pacific medal and the good conduct medal.
Following his discharge from the service August 29, 1945, he returned to his home here and again engaged in farming in the Montague section. On March 15, 1947, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Falls.
He is survived by his wife, two children, Linda and Gerald; two sisters, Mrs. George (Merle) Dewar of this city and Mrs. Robert (Pauline) Poindexter of Montague; three brothers, Cecil, Rene and Oscar Cook all of near this city. He was preceded in death by a son John Howard Cook. His parents passed away during his war service. He is also survived by other relatives and a host of friends. The large attendance at the funeral service was indicative of the high esteem in which he was held.
Funeral services were held from the Benton Funeral Home chapel in Fort Benton on Monday afternoon, conducted by the Reverend W. Lloyd Hanley, pastor of the First Christian Church. He was given a full military funeral with members of the Geraldine Veterans of foreign Wars post, of which he was a member, in charge of the service. He was also a member of the Prison of War organization and of the Disabled American Veterans. Pallbearers were Marshall Fisher, Ross Bennett, James Coyle and Phillip Schoonover. Burial was made in the Sunset Memorial Gardens at Great Falls. (Ira's remains were later moved to the Riverview Cemetery overlooking Fort Benton).
The relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of all in their bereavement. In his passing this country has lost a good citizen who gave up a great deal in the service of our country.
Ira Ray Cook, son of John E. and Julia Nichols Cook was born at Blairsville, Georgia, on February 13, 1914. He spent his early boyhood in Georgia and came to Montana with his parents in 1928. Since that time he has farmed in the Montague section. January 27, 1941, he volunteered in service for his country and received his training in the states. Following his basic training period he was sent overseas to Bataan. He was made a prisoner of war following the fall of Bataan to the Japanese in May 1942. The following 30 months were spent in the prisoner of war camps of the Japanese. He was on the Bataan Death March and was later sent to Camp Hoten, Mikden, Manchuria, where the Japanese had large manufacturing plants and a labor camp. Those months were ones of suffering and hardships of every kind. After being liberated following the close of the war he was returned to the states in 1945. For his war service he was awarded the American defense medal; Purple Heart; Philippines defense bronze star; Asiatic-Pacific medal and the good conduct medal.
Following his discharge from the service August 29, 1945, he returned to his home here and again engaged in farming in the Montague section. On March 15, 1947, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Falls.
He is survived by his wife, two children, Linda and Gerald; two sisters, Mrs. George (Merle) Dewar of this city and Mrs. Robert (Pauline) Poindexter of Montague; three brothers, Cecil, Rene and Oscar Cook all of near this city. He was preceded in death by a son John Howard Cook. His parents passed away during his war service. He is also survived by other relatives and a host of friends. The large attendance at the funeral service was indicative of the high esteem in which he was held.
Funeral services were held from the Benton Funeral Home chapel in Fort Benton on Monday afternoon, conducted by the Reverend W. Lloyd Hanley, pastor of the First Christian Church. He was given a full military funeral with members of the Geraldine Veterans of foreign Wars post, of which he was a member, in charge of the service. He was also a member of the Prison of War organization and of the Disabled American Veterans. Pallbearers were Marshall Fisher, Ross Bennett, James Coyle and Phillip Schoonover. Burial was made in the Sunset Memorial Gardens at Great Falls. (Ira's remains were later moved to the Riverview Cemetery overlooking Fort Benton).
The relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of all in their bereavement. In his passing this country has lost a good citizen who gave up a great deal in the service of our country.
Ira Ray Cook, a Chouteau County resident since 1928, passed away at the home of his sister, Mrs. Merle Dewar, in Fort Benton, of a heart attack at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 20. He had been afflicted with a heart condition for the past several years. His passing came as a great shock to his family and friends.
Ira Ray Cook, son of John E. and Julia Nichols Cook was born at Blairsville, Georgia, on February 13, 1914. He spent his early boyhood in Georgia and came to Montana with his parents in 1928. Since that time he has farmed in the Montague section. January 27, 1941, he volunteered in service for his country and received his training in the states. Following his basic training period he was sent overseas to Bataan. He was made a prisoner of war following the fall of Bataan to the Japanese in May 1942. The following 30 months were spent in the prisoner of war camps of the Japanese. He was on the Bataan Death March and was later sent to Camp Hoten, Mikden, Manchuria, where the Japanese had large manufacturing plants and a labor camp. Those months were ones of suffering and hardships of every kind. After being liberated following the close of the war he was returned to the states in 1945. For his war service he was awarded the American defense medal; Purple Heart; Philippines defense bronze star; Asiatic-Pacific medal and the good conduct medal.
Following his discharge from the service August 29, 1945, he returned to his home here and again engaged in farming in the Montague section. On March 15, 1947, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Falls.
He is survived by his wife, two children, Linda and Gerald; two sisters, Mrs. George (Merle) Dewar of this city and Mrs. Robert (Pauline) Poindexter of Montague; three brothers, Cecil, Rene and Oscar Cook all of near this city. He was preceded in death by a son John Howard Cook. His parents passed away during his war service. He is also survived by other relatives and a host of friends. The large attendance at the funeral service was indicative of the high esteem in which he was held.
Funeral services were held from the Benton Funeral Home chapel in Fort Benton on Monday afternoon, conducted by the Reverend W. Lloyd Hanley, pastor of the First Christian Church. He was given a full military funeral with members of the Geraldine Veterans of foreign Wars post, of which he was a member, in charge of the service. He was also a member of the Prison of War organization and of the Disabled American Veterans. Pallbearers were Marshall Fisher, Ross Bennett, James Coyle and Phillip Schoonover. Burial was made in the Sunset Memorial Gardens at Great Falls. (Ira's remains were later moved to the Riverview Cemetery overlooking Fort Benton).
The relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of all in their bereavement. In his passing this country has lost a good citizen who gave up a great deal in the service of our country.
Ira Ray Cook, son of John E. and Julia Nichols Cook was born at Blairsville, Georgia, on February 13, 1914. He spent his early boyhood in Georgia and came to Montana with his parents in 1928. Since that time he has farmed in the Montague section. January 27, 1941, he volunteered in service for his country and received his training in the states. Following his basic training period he was sent overseas to Bataan. He was made a prisoner of war following the fall of Bataan to the Japanese in May 1942. The following 30 months were spent in the prisoner of war camps of the Japanese. He was on the Bataan Death March and was later sent to Camp Hoten, Mikden, Manchuria, where the Japanese had large manufacturing plants and a labor camp. Those months were ones of suffering and hardships of every kind. After being liberated following the close of the war he was returned to the states in 1945. For his war service he was awarded the American defense medal; Purple Heart; Philippines defense bronze star; Asiatic-Pacific medal and the good conduct medal.
Following his discharge from the service August 29, 1945, he returned to his home here and again engaged in farming in the Montague section. On March 15, 1947, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Falls.
He is survived by his wife, two children, Linda and Gerald; two sisters, Mrs. George (Merle) Dewar of this city and Mrs. Robert (Pauline) Poindexter of Montague; three brothers, Cecil, Rene and Oscar Cook all of near this city. He was preceded in death by a son John Howard Cook. His parents passed away during his war service. He is also survived by other relatives and a host of friends. The large attendance at the funeral service was indicative of the high esteem in which he was held.
Funeral services were held from the Benton Funeral Home chapel in Fort Benton on Monday afternoon, conducted by the Reverend W. Lloyd Hanley, pastor of the First Christian Church. He was given a full military funeral with members of the Geraldine Veterans of foreign Wars post, of which he was a member, in charge of the service. He was also a member of the Prison of War organization and of the Disabled American Veterans. Pallbearers were Marshall Fisher, Ross Bennett, James Coyle and Phillip Schoonover. Burial was made in the Sunset Memorial Gardens at Great Falls. (Ira's remains were later moved to the Riverview Cemetery overlooking Fort Benton).
The relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of all in their bereavement. In his passing this country has lost a good citizen who gave up a great deal in the service of our country.
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