Rev. LaVerl Cook 91 Oblong passed away Monday June 10, 2002 at Crawford Memorial Hospital Robinson, IL. Rev. Cook was born February 26, 1911 in Yale, Illinois and was the son of Charles Cook and Sarah (Mitchell) Cook.
On January 8, 1930, he married Faye Houser and they enjoyed 72 years of marriage together. Rev. Cook accepted the call to the ministry in 1934 and served a number of years at Evangelical United Brethren Churches across the state of Illinois. From 1934 - 1936 her served the White Heath Church in White Heath, Illinois, from 1936 - 1938 the Flora Circuit, from 1930 - 1940 the Toledo Circuit, from 1943 - 1946 the Vergennes Circuit, 1946 - 1947 Oakley - Casner Churches, 1947- 1951 the Sumner Circuit, 1951 - 1956 Bluford - Oakdale, from 1956 - 1961 the Parkersburg Parish, from 1961 - 1969 the St. Francisville Parish, from 1969 - 1974 the Oblong Church. Rev. Cook retired from the United Methodist Conference in 1974 and lived in Oblong until his death.
LaVerl was a man of many interest. He was an avid Amateur Ham Radio operator and since his retirement had spent an hour every weekday talking to his friends across the country and the world on his radio system. He was known for his beautiful gardens and always grew enough to feed the neighborhood. He was a member of the early day Antique Engine and Tractor Association. He loved to restore old farm machinery including engines, tractors, and combines. He was an excellent mechanic and insisted on doing his own automobile maintenance. He loved to do woodworking and built clocks for all his children and grandchildren. He loved to walk and it was familiar to see him out walking. He will be sorely missed by friends and family.
Rev. Cook is survived by his wife Faye; 3 sons and daughters-in-laws Charles & Elizabeth Cook, Jack & Betty Cook and Paul & Vicki Cook, 2 daughters and sons-in-laws Ruby & Bill Walden and Lenna & K. G. Ernest; 16 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandson; 1 sister Ada Barkley; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters Lucy Dulgar, Mary Cummins and Fay Cook and 2 great grandchildren.