Richard Eric Cook
Richard "Rick" Eric Cook was born November 15, 1959 in Kansas. He lived in Kansas where he loved playing baseball before relocating to the Houston area his junior year of high school. He called Katy, Texas home for the last 29 years where he was a member of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church.
Rick passed away on May 2, 2023 at 63 years of age at Memorial Herman Hospital Memorial City after suffering more than a decade with cardiac heart disease.
In high school, Rick met Carolyn Markey and the two were wed the fall after graduation. Both are of the ’77 Class at Northbrook High School. They were married 45 years and have two children; Natalie Cook Clark and Kent Cook. The Cooks tell people though that they actually have 4 children as they were blessed with Stephen Matthew Clark and Karianne Shupak Cook through marriage.
Rick loved playing golf, the Astros, and Little League Baseball, but he will be known for the love he had for his family especially his love for his grandchildren. He was a proud Dance Dad for years happily hauling props, a youth leader at St. Peter’s UMC, and he was even known to pop up on his son’s football field. He is an honored member of the Tiger Rock Martial Arts family where he spent countless hours taking Tae Kwon Do alongside his son. In more recent years, he loved watching his granddaughter, Angelina as she strived for new belt ranks and competed in tournaments across the country. He never missed a belt test or a tournament as he cheered for his “Firecracker.”
Rick is a graduate of the University of Houston with a B.A. in Business.
Before retiring in 2019, Rick spent a career working in the oil and gas industry. Most recently, that included working in Saudi Arabia for 17 years, where he did not just contribute to the company but to the community through numerous organizations.
His favorite time working in Saudi was when his daughter’s family lived there. He spent countless hours with his granddaughter, Angelina and her parents often said he was a third parent. The pair had a special bond and often referred to each other as BBE’s (Best Buddies Ever.)
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Kingsland location with Rev. Whitney Peper officiating.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carolyn Markey Cook; children, Natalie Cook Clark and Stephen Matthew Clark, Kent Cook and Karianne Shupak Cook; grandchildren, Angelina Jean Clark, Alexander “Zippy” Clark, Thomas Kent Cook, and Lillian Jeanne Cook; dog Daisy and numerous grand pets.
He is preceded in death by in-laws James Kent Markey and Doris Riley Markey; granddaughter Aliena Madeline Clark; numerous dogs and grand pets.
Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.