Royce F. Cook of Oberlin, Kansas passed away at the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, Kansas on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the age of 94. Royce was born to Floyd E. and Murttis I. (Farr) Cook on August 21, 1924, in rural Logan County Kansas. He grew up in Logan and Scott Counties and graduated from Scott City High School with the class of 1942. On the 27th of June 1944, Royce entered the United States Marine Corps. His special military qualification was rifleman. Royce served in the Asiatic-Pacific Area and participated in actions against the enemy on Iwo Jima, where he was wounded. On September 29th of 1945, Royce was honorably discharged from the Casual Company, Marine Detachment, U.S. Naval-Retraining Command and the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He was proud to serve his country.
On June 20th, 1947, Royce Cook married Lola M. Derley at the Scott County Courthouse over their noon hour. This marriage lasted seventy-one years. Lola would tell you it was a great seventy-one-year partnership and a good marriage. Royce and Lola had two sons, Lee Royce and Verl Ray and a daughter, Sharon. Royce and Lola lived in Scott City until 1950 when they moved to Gove County. In Gove County, they lived in the ranch house by the Pyramids. In 1952, they moved to Decatur County where Royce lived the rest of his life and Lola continues to live.
Royce was a farmer and rancher. He loved cattle and thoroughly enjoyed raising and taking care of them. He liked working at the Sale Barns in Oberlin, Atwood, and Quinter. He was the kind of person who was always willing to help a neighbor. He worked hard, but he enjoyed a little coon and coyote hunting. Another passion of Royce’s was attending auctions. He was always bringing home “treasurers” that he was sure he would use or need one day. Most of all, he loved his family.
Royce is survived by his wife Lola of Oberlin, Kansas; daughter, Sharon Zimmerman and Lyle of Grinnell, Kansas; brother, Dale R. Cook and Jeanne of North Platte, Nebraska; sister, Joanne C. Black and Robert of Arizona; grandchildren, Daniel Weis and Kilee Zeman, David Weis, Lance Weis and Katie, Matthew Weis and Meghan, Kayla Zimmerman, Rebecca Cook, Janel Cook; and great-grandchildren, Walter Weis, Sawyer Weis, Anistynn Zeman, Oliver Weis, Emersynn Weis, and Eliot Weis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Murttis Cook; sons, Lee Royce and Verl Ray; and brother, Derald E. Cook.
A Funeral Service is planned for Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. at the Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kansas, with Pastor Gordon Pettibone presiding. Interment will follow the service at the Oberlin Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by Oberlin American Legion #70, Fort Wallace Calvary Tribute, and the United States Marine Corp Honor Guard. Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 16, 2018, at Pauls Funeral Home from 9:00 A.M. until 7:30 P.M. and Wednesday, October 17, 2018, from 9:30 A.M. until service time. Memorials are suggested to the Royce F. Cook Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Avenue, Oberlin, Kansas 67749.
Royce loved his family, worked hard, helped his neighbors, and served his country with honor.