Roll Call Tribute
Paul "Mike" Cooke Jr. '60 January 13, 2020 2:07 PM updated: January 13, 2020 2:12 PM
THIBODAUX FUNERAL HOME obituary
104 Saint Patrick Hwy.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
office@thibodauxfuneralhome.com
(985) 446-8826
Fax
(985) 446-8817
https://www.thibodauxfuneralhome.com/
Col. Paul Michael Townsend Cooke Jr.
March 26, 1938 - January 4, 2020
Col. Paul Michael "Mike" Townsend Cooke, Jr, USAF, Retired, of Valrico, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on January 4, 2020. Mike was born March 26, 1938, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He was commissioned in 1961 through the ROTC program at Texas AandM University, and later received an MBA at Auburn University. Mike had a distinguished 28-year career in the US Air Force starting as a flight navigator. Military career highlights include 6800 flying hours while airlifting troops and supplies to 65 countries, sixty combat-support missions in Vietnam, and a one-year tour at Nakkon Phanom, Thailand. Mike also had the privilege of serving on the flight crews of Secretary of State Kissinger, Vice President Agnew, and Secretary of the Treasury Connally on numerous international diplomatic missions. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Mike had a second career of seventeen years in Hillsborough County government, serving as the Assistant Tax Collector and Assistant Chief Deputy Property Appraiser.
In retirement, Mike enjoyed his family above all else, fishing with his grandsons, serving on the Veterans' Affairs committee, staying active with the local chapter of the Texas AandM Alumni Association, and performing cat rescue through the Animal Coalition with his wife Holly.
Mike is survived by his wife of fifteen years, the former Holly Uhler; his three children Mike Cooke (and wife Rebekah) of Danville, California, Mark Cooke (and wife Darlene) of Wesley Chapel, Florida, and Martha Rand (and husband Joel) of Austin, Texas; his brother George Cooke (and wife Jan), sister Eileen Davis (and husband J. Hugh), and brother-in-law Joker Louviere; seven grandchildren, and one new great granddaughter. Mike was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Harriet, who passed away in 2000, and his sister Martha Louviere.
A visitation will be held in his honor on Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 1:00 PM until service time. Mike will be buried in Thibodaux, Louisiana, following a family service at 2PM on Saturday, January 18th, 2020, at the Thibodaux Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks in the Brandon, Florida, area where he has resided for the last thirty years.
Thibodaux Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation
JAN 18. 1:00 PM (CST)
Thibodaux Funeral Home
104 St. Patrick Hwy
Thibodaux, LA, 70301
Religious Service
JAN 18. 2:00 PM (CST)
Thibodaux Funeral Home
104 St. Patrick Hwy
Thibodaux, LA, 70301
Cemetery Details
St. Joseph Cemetery - Thibodaux
949 Menard St.
Thibodaux, LA, 70301
104 Saint Patrick Hwy.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
office@thibodauxfuneralhome.com
(985) 446-8826
Fax
(985) 446-8817
https://www.thibodauxfuneralhome.com/
Col. Paul Michael Townsend Cooke Jr.
March 26, 1938 - January 4, 2020
Col. Paul Michael "Mike" Townsend Cooke, Jr, USAF, Retired, of Valrico, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on January 4, 2020. Mike was born March 26, 1938, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He was commissioned in 1961 through the ROTC program at Texas AandM University, and later received an MBA at Auburn University. Mike had a distinguished 28-year career in the US Air Force starting as a flight navigator. Military career highlights include 6800 flying hours while airlifting troops and supplies to 65 countries, sixty combat-support missions in Vietnam, and a one-year tour at Nakkon Phanom, Thailand. Mike also had the privilege of serving on the flight crews of Secretary of State Kissinger, Vice President Agnew, and Secretary of the Treasury Connally on numerous international diplomatic missions. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Mike had a second career of seventeen years in Hillsborough County government, serving as the Assistant Tax Collector and Assistant Chief Deputy Property Appraiser.
In retirement, Mike enjoyed his family above all else, fishing with his grandsons, serving on the Veterans' Affairs committee, staying active with the local chapter of the Texas AandM Alumni Association, and performing cat rescue through the Animal Coalition with his wife Holly.
Mike is survived by his wife of fifteen years, the former Holly Uhler; his three children Mike Cooke (and wife Rebekah) of Danville, California, Mark Cooke (and wife Darlene) of Wesley Chapel, Florida, and Martha Rand (and husband Joel) of Austin, Texas; his brother George Cooke (and wife Jan), sister Eileen Davis (and husband J. Hugh), and brother-in-law Joker Louviere; seven grandchildren, and one new great granddaughter. Mike was preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Harriet, who passed away in 2000, and his sister Martha Louviere.
A visitation will be held in his honor on Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 1:00 PM until service time. Mike will be buried in Thibodaux, Louisiana, following a family service at 2PM on Saturday, January 18th, 2020, at the Thibodaux Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks in the Brandon, Florida, area where he has resided for the last thirty years.
Thibodaux Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation
JAN 18. 1:00 PM (CST)
Thibodaux Funeral Home
104 St. Patrick Hwy
Thibodaux, LA, 70301
Religious Service
JAN 18. 2:00 PM (CST)
Thibodaux Funeral Home
104 St. Patrick Hwy
Thibodaux, LA, 70301
Cemetery Details
St. Joseph Cemetery - Thibodaux
949 Menard St.
Thibodaux, LA, 70301
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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