Joseph "Jodie" Kendall Cook

Joseph K. (Jodie) Cook was born on April 10, 1946, in Dallas, TX. to the late Mimi Platter Cook Carrere and the late Maxwell Joseph Cook. Mimi Platter was a highly rated pilot in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP’s) who taught men combat bomber techniques. Maxwell Joseph (Joe) Cook was a highly decorated navigator having seen combat duty in B-17 bombers in the South Pacific during WWII and was also an instructor at the Great Bend Army Air Corp training base.

After getting married Mimi and Joe Cook soon moved to Dallas, Texas. Jodie Cook would be born in Dallas where his parents were adjusting to a post WWII United States. After Jodie’s birth, Mimi and Joe Cook moved to Jackson, MS where Mimi’s father was a cotton broker. Jodie’s sister, Janet Cook, was born there as were twins Nancy Clare Cook and Kenneth Henry Cook.

The Cook family then moved to Atlanta when Jodie was four. Jodie had trouble staying kindergarten because he already knew how to read and consequently was kicked out of two kindergarten schools

In Atlanta twins, ++87’eeAndrew Michael Cook and Christopher James Cook as well as sister Laura Van Every Cook were born, which made Jodie the eldest of seven children.

Jodie attended the Christ the King parochial school in Atlanta through 7th grade, then Marist College, a military all boys Atlanta high school, graduating in 1964. He would next attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.

At Georgia Tech he received a degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science. For several years at Tech, he received compensation from the Philosophy of Science department working for several of its professors. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and worked as a waiter at the Atlanta Lion’s Head restaurant, a popular restaurant owned by two GA. Tech grads who would only have GA Tech students as waiters. Jodie also had several other part-time jobs which allowed him to pay his way through GA. Tech.

In 1970 he would marry Mary Morrison, and they would have two children: Joseph Kendall Cook, Jr. and Mary McDonough Cook.

After graduating from GA. Tech, Jodie worked for several chemical companies, among them were Curtin Scientific, Westvaco Corp. and DSM Chemicals. The latter was from 1975 to 1985 in Augusta, GA. In November of 1975 and prior to moving to Augusta, Jodie and Caroline Abbott would marry in Atlanta at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

In Augusta, both Caroline and Jodie taught and coached a neighborhood swimming team and participated in other community projects.

In 1985 Jodie left DSM Chemicals and started Highlands Chemical which had the ‘Highlands’ name because it was at Caroline’s parents’ vacation home in Highlands where he decided to start his own company: Highlands Chemical. In the early 1990’s they began a remodeling/restoration of the Highlands ‘Abbott’ house and moved there in1997.

BioCat Solutions was established by Mr. Cook and Jim Harris to produce an extract from kelp through a process developed by Mr. Cook This extract would be sold to water treatment plants to accelerate biological purification of wastewater. Later the product was sold as a septic tank treatment and used in other ways. Mr. Cook eventually became the sole owner.

In the late 1990’s Jodie became a member of the Rotary Club of Highlands. Rotary would be focal point of his life for many years. He was president from 2010 – 2011, the year the club was named the Best Large Club in the District. He started Highlands Rotary Bingo and took the game to the District meeting a few years later. Jodie loved cars, especially Jaguars and was a part of Highlands Rotary and its involvement in the Highlands Motoring Festival. He served as Assistant Governor for 5 years. Then he held two positions in District – Publicity Chairman and Project Development.

Jodie served on the Blue Ridge Dental Clinic Board. He helped to facilitate the NC Mom 3-day event with the Highlands Rotary and the Dental Clinic at Western Carolina University,

Jodie helped start the Upper Cullasaja Water Association with Bob Wright. He was Treasurer and President of UCWA. He served on the Macon County Watershed Association. Jodie served as President of the Peggy Crosby Center. He became a tutor for the Literacy Council of Highlands. Initially, Jodie tutored those who were not doing well in Math courses and Chemistry. Later he began to tutor juniors and seniors at the Highlands School in college courses in various Math and Chemistry classes. He even taught himself college Statistics to tutor one student. He served as President of the Literacy Council. He was a proud member of the Church of the Incarnation in Highlands, NC.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Caroline Abbott Cook. His son Joseph Kendal l(Kendall) Cook and his granddaughter Adeline Cook. His Daughter Mary (Mimi) McDonough Cook. His siblings, Janet von Schuschnigg, Nancy Carley (Steve), Chris Cook, Van Burns (Rick) and Sasha Tatasciore.

Memorials may be made to Highlands Literacy and Learning Center, the Church of the Incarnation or Marist School Atlanta, GA.

Many thanks to 4 Seasons Care/Hospice who helped Caroline care for Jodie the last few weeks.

Online condolences may be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cook family.