Thomas Hunter Cook

Thomas Hunter Cook, 91, passed away Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, at Canon Hospice in Gulfport, Ms. He is survived by his dearly loved wife, Maria Oliva Cook from Chiapas, Mexico, his son Thomas Anthony Cook, and daughters, Rosana Maria Tyson, Amelia Oliva (Dolly) Martin, Diana Maria Foroughi, Maria Aurora Mock, Mary Alice Martin, and Lucy Linda Russell, 25 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren. Born in Baton Rouge, La on October 5, 1925, he was the sixth and youngest child of Frederick Webb Cook and Amelia Gregory Cook. After serving in the Signal Corps during WWII and in Korea as a 1st Lieutenant, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Republic of Korea service medal. After earning an arts and journalism degree from the University of Arkansas, he taught English and Journalism at Moss Point High School, before joining The Daily Herald as a staff writer in 1956. He then served for 34 years as city editor, news editor, managing editor and associate editor for the Sun-Herald. Tom served faithfully as a teacher for a men's Sunday class and as an elder at First Presbyterian Church and later as Elder Emeritus. Visitation will be Monday, Feb. 27, 10-11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Gulfport, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Private interment will be at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, with honors by the United Sates Army, following the service. Serving as pallbearers are grandsons Geoffrey Tyson, Jonathan Martin, Navid Foroughi, Christopher Mock, Joey Norton, and Bryce Russell. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport, is in charge of arrangements