KTRE.com Lufkin and Nacogdoches |East Texans Eulogize Zachary Ryan "Zac" Cook

East Texans Eulogize Zachary Ryan "Zac" Cook

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Family, friends, and colleagues lined the pews at First Baptist Church in Lufkin on Saturday.  They were surrounded by reminders of Second Lieutenant Zachary Ryan "Zac" Cook's life; his knee high riding boots, his Texas Army National Guard hat, photos from his life...Zac hunting and fishing with his older brother, David, Zac playing youth league baseball, Zac proud and lovingly embracing his mother and father, David Sr. and Becky, Zac in his military uniform, Zac's favorite Bible passage "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."  Psalms 91:11.

Flowers and wreaths lined both sides of the floor next to the flag draped coffin.  Zac touched many people in his short full life.  It was evident from the overflowing crowd that filled the church sanctuary and the balcony upstairs. He died just two months shy of his 23rd birthday.  He was one of two soldiers killed in a helicopter crash during training exercises at Texas A-and-M on January 12^th.   Forty-two year old Staff Sergeant Charles Mitts, of Spring, Texas, died Wednesday night as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.  Three other members of that Texas Army National Guard crew were injured. 

Among those there to pay their respects was the helicopter pilot from Monday's accident, Lieutenant Ellis Taylor of Buda. Still recovering from injuries he received in the crash Lt. Ellis would not be denied the chance to say goodbye to his fellow soldier.

Speakers spoke of Zac's good deeds, loving personality, fierce dedication to his family, the military and his friends.  His longtime friend Hall Henderson spoke of how Zac made friends easily and how he befriended people of all walks of life.

Reverend Dr. Nolan Duck shared Zac's father's experience of how the senior Cook received the call that every parent dreads.  The call that caused him to drop everything and rush to his son's side. Once there, how he felt compelled to just hold Zac's hand and in that moment realized how big his son's hand had grown.  He encouraged fathers in the audience to take time to hold their son's hand and told the sons in the audience to let them.

Zac's older brother, David Jr., was called forth to accept the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal on his brother's behalf.  Also a Second Lieutenant, David Jr. Spoke of the special bond between he and Zac.  He also praised his parents for their love, support and the good job they did in raising them. He said to the brothers in the audience to make sure they take the time to look their brother in the eyes and say, "I love you."

Joey Dodds, a fellow Cadet, read "The Last Corps Trip," which included the line "No need for us to tarry here, deciding upon their fates; Tis plain as the halo on my head that they've opened Heaven's gates."

You may post a tribute to Zac at www.mem.com. Expressions of sympathy in Zac's memory may be made to Parsons Mounted Calvary, c/o Bob Burns 1227 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843-1227; or to the Zac Cook Scholarship Fund (benefiting a baseball player) c/o the Lufkin High School Alumni Association P.O. Box 150837 Lufkin, Texas 75915.

Zac is survived by his father and mother, David and Becky Cook of Lufkin; brother Second Lt. David Cook, Jr. of Ft. Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma; grandparents, Loyd and Nelda Cook of Lufkin; a number of aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.