Obituary of Jack Martin Cook Jr., 67
Jack Martin Cook Jr.
– Jack Martin Cook Jr climbed the stairway to Heaven, surrounded by his children, on April 3, 2025, in Templeton, Calif.
Jack was born on May 24, 1957, in Long Beach, CA, to Jack and Dorothy Cook and was the youngest of three children. After graduating from Millikan High School, he moved to San Luis Obispo during his Junior year of college to attend Cal Poly University as a soil science major. While his academic journey was not completed, he made his home in Paso Robles, where he met his wife of 16 years, Joan Clarkson, and together they built a family of 8 children, 16 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson. Though their marriage ended in 2005, Jack and Joan remained close friends and continued to raise their children together. Over the years, Jack was heavily involved in the Shandon community, serving in the Lions Club and the Shandon School Board for several years.
He became a mainstay in the north county, between managing the Paso Robles Denny’s and selling cars at Paso Robles Ford, Paso Robles Kia, and Borjon Automotive over the last 30 years. In 2014, Jack met the love of his life, Patricia McCall, and they have lived happily and snarkily together ever since.
Jack was a kind and generous man to everyone who knew him. He loved the rock and roll of the 60s and 70s, Clint Eastwood movies, and war history. He instilled in his kids a love of reading, a ridiculous sense of humor, and the tenet that family is who you choose, always opening his home and heart to anyone who needed a safe place to stay. He told the worst dad jokes and outlandish stories, most of which were true, and could always find the humor in any situation, especially if it was completely inappropriate.
Jack is survived by his older brother Randy Cook, and sister Colleen Lauriano. He is also survived by his partner, Patti, their dog Liam (who is a very good boy) and his children, Mallory Prout, Nicholas Roberts, Sarah Kamekona, Matthew Lewis, Ashley Gibbs, Margo Heaton, Arielle Bartlow and Andrew Cook, and his 16 grandchildren, along with countless other kids of all ages who looked up to him and that he had taken in in one way or another. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Dorothy Cook, and one daughter, Kaitlin Cook. Services will be held on April 24, 2025, at 12 at Saint Williams Catholic Church in Atascadero, CA.
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