Richard Cook Sr.

___ ~ Dec. 06, 2022

Richard Arthur (Dick) Cook, 88, of Orem, Utah passed away on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Dick was born February 19, 1934 in Los Angeles, California to Gilbert and Earla Beerup Cook. He married Carolyn Rhea Casper on November 26, 1954 in Richmond, California. They later divorced. Dick later married Eva Shirley Foote September 22, 1968. Dick and Shirley were together for 56 years. Dick grew up mostly in Pleasant Grove and attended Pleasant Grove High School. He enjoyed playing football and fast cars. After leaving High School Dick went to work doing odd plastering jobs with his father. It wasn't long before he joined the Navy and sailed the world on an ammunition ship during the Korean war. He was later honorably discharged from the Navy in February of 1961. At this time, he resided in Norwalk, California with his small family and worked as a plasterer. Dick moved his family back to Utah and continued working as a plasterer with his father and multiple plastering companies. Dick became a master plaster over the many years of practicing his trade. He became highly sought after when it came to plaster restorations throughout the Salt Lake valley. He worked and ran plastering crews on many notable buildings and structures such as the Governor's Mansion and Triad Center. In the early 90's, Dick worked on the Salt Lake Temple restoration and The Cathedral of the Madeleine restoration at the same time. He would joke he was a Catholic in the morning working at the Cathedral and a Mormon in the afternoon working on the Salt Lake Temple. Dick worked on and ran crews on many other prominent buildings in the Salt Lake valley, such as, the Church Office building, Deveraux Mansion, City & County Building, The Lion House and many LDS Temples. There are probably few buildings in the Salt Lake valley Dick didn't work on. Dick enjoyed his craft. However, he enjoyed it even more when he was teaching his son Rick and grandson Justin Davis the tricks and secrets of a fast-disappearing old school plastering trade. Dick absolutely loved working with his grandkids, whether it be making rubber band guns, bows and arrows, and birdhouses in his garage, or restoring magnificent edifices with Justin. Dick took some time off from plastering in the mid-sixties and became a truck driver. That was short lived. During the mid-nineties Dick was invited to Snow College 4 years in a row to teach a 2 week plastering class. He really enjoyed teaching the class. Fun fact: Dick was the first person ever allowed to smoke on campus. When he arrived to teach the first class, he was told he wasn't allowed to smoke on campus. In "Dick" fashion, he packed up his tools and as he was leaving, he told them if he can't at least smoke somewhere nearby or outside he was leaving and they could find someone else to teach the class. Needless to say, they reconsidered and found a place for him to smoke. Dick really enjoyed teaching his declining trade at Snow College. Moreover, what he enjoyed most is when his grandson Justin would go with him to assist. Dick retired from plastering 1995. Nevertheless, he stayed just as busy as ever with his love of refinishing antique furniture in his garage. He refinished hundreds of amazingly beautiful pieces over the years of his retirement. Many of his restored antique furniture can still be seen in his favorite hangout Callie's Cafe in Orem. Dick loved to watch sports and was an avid fan of the Utah Jazz, BYU and University of Utah football teams. Furthermore, he very much enjoyed gardening in his backyard with his sweet wife Shirley. There was not a sweeter time to Dick and Shirley than to have the kids and grandkids stop by pick a few ripe tomatoes from the vine and enjoy the fresh tomatoes with salt together on the back patio. He is survived by his wife Shirley, Orem, his brother Gilbert Cook, Orem, and his son Phil Cook, American Fork; 20 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings, Ralph and Barbara, and four children, Arthur, Ronnie, Rick and Lisa. Dick didn't want a fancy funeral. He requested a simple graveside service. As per his wishes, the graveside service and interment will be in the Peasant Grove City Cemetery, Monday, December 12, 2022 at 11:00 am. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.