Byron Floyd Cook III

Byron Floyd Cook III was born April 9, 1949, and departed this life on June 21, 2011. The eldest of four children, he was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Byron F. Cook Jr. and his wife, Mary Cunningham Cook. Biff spent his childhood in Rockdale, Texas, graduating as salutatorian of his high school class. He then attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he met his wife of forty years, Suzanne Loaring-Clark Cook. In the third grade, Biff was burned over twenty-five percent of his body when his bathrobe caught fire by a space heater. He missed the following semester of school as he recovered from the subsequent surgeries, and was cared for by the local town physician. That event instilled in him a desire to be a doctor, and care for others. From that path he never wavered. Upon graduation from Austin College, he attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, choosing to specialize in general surgery. He completed his surgery residency at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, then completed a fellowship in peripheral vascular surgery. In 1982, Biff and Suzanne settled in Longview, Texas with their four children. Medicine was more than a profession for him, it was a calling. He devoted his life to caring for others, finding his special passion on a mission trip to Mexico in 1985. He went as often as he could, introducing many friends and colleagues to the community of Niltepec and its special needs. Biff passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. His death ended a long and difficult battle with cancer. He fought bravely, submitting to four trial treatments, in the hope of not just extending his own life, but in helping others. He was preceded in death by his parents, Byron and Mary Cook. He is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne, and four children: Courtney Spearman and husband Jim, Chad and his wife April and grandsons William Coleman and Byron Benjamin, Jessica and her partner Noell, and Seth and his wife Erin. Also surviving are his brothers Tim Cook and wife Sheila of Liberty, Morris Cook and wife Julie of Howe, and sister Rebecca Cook Kirkpatrick and her husband Bruce of Norman, Oklahoma, and several nieces and nephews. Our family wishes to acknowledge with great gratitude the loving care provided by the staff of Beacon Hospice, especially Dr. Margaret Schottstaedt and nurse Ilene Rice. A celebration of his life and memorial service will be held Saturday, June 25, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Longview under the direction of Rader Funeral Home Longview. Interment will be at a later date in Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Byron F. Cook Medical Mission Fund, care of Texas Bank and Trust, PO Box 3188, Longview, TX 75606; or to Beacon Hospice, 5016 Gilmer Rd, Longview, TX 75604

Byron Floyd Cook III

April 9, 1949 - June 21, 2011