Eddie was born on May 17, 1950, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Gerald and Betty Cook. Gerald was in the United States Air Force so Eddie grew up all over the country, graduating from high school in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1968. In 1969, Eddie enlisted in the United States Navy to serve his country. In 1982 he earned his Bachelor's Degree and in 2006, he received his Master's Degree, at age 56 while joking that he qualified for student discounts and senior discounts at the same time. He had moved to Duncan, Oklahoma in the spring of 1973 and worked as a lab tech and chemist at Halliburton, and later worked at CertainTeed in Wichita Falls, Texas, finishing his career with 25 years at Pantex, just outside of Amarillo, Texas. He retired in 2016. It was at Halliburton that he met his future wife, Pauletta Shipley, and they were married on June 14, 1974. They welcomed three boys to that marriage, Russell in 1976, Garrett in 1984, and Brady in 1986. After 27 years in Amarillo, Eddie and Pauletta moved to Greenville, Texas, where they have lived since. He peacefully left this life on September 26, 2026, surrounded by family.
Eddie loved all kinds of sports, from curling and bowling to football, but baseball was his true sports passion. He played softball until he was in his fifties, coached all three sons in baseball, started a select baseball team in Amarillo, and even helped coach a grandchild or two.
Eddie also loved traveling and new experiences. He and Pauletta visited all fifty states and eight foreign countries by the time they celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2024. He loved Mexican food, Disney movies, old Westerns (both books and movies), gardening, playing games, and building snowmen and igloos in the front yard, but his true love in this life was his family. He was so very proud of his boys. Their family of five turned into eight when Russell married Amanda, Garrett married Jenna, and Brady married Melina. In recent years, he became Paca to 6 granddaughters and 4 grandsons. The highlight of his life was gathering all 18 together whenever possible. Marshmallow guns at Christmas were not out of the question when he put his mind to it. Birthday surprises were among his favorite times. When the diagnosis of ALS became his challenge in February of this year, his only request of his family was ''no sad faces''. He said that while he had the disease, it didn't have him and he spent a big part of these last several months visiting with friends and family, with a wonderful sense of humor and a measure of grace and strength not often seen in people with this challenge.
Most importantly, he loved to serve God. He was a member of Hillside Church of Christ at his death and had been member of other churches of Christ in Oklahoma and Texas. He often spoke of the love of meeting other Christians during travels. His love for God included work as a deacon at two churches for many years, teaching classes, and especially leading singing. When he retired, his new hobby became visiting with the older men of the congregation.
He is survived by Pauletta, his devoted wife of 52 years, son Russell and his wife Amanda, their daughters, Amelia and Lola, son Garrett and his wife Jenna and their children, Lexi, Bella, Ethan, Emma and Garrett, and son Brady and his wife Melina, and their children Logan, Hannah, and Levi. He is also survived by his brothers Rick (and Sharon) and Roland (and Anne) and sister Becci (and Jim) Murtha, numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and other family around the country.
He is preceded in death by his mother who died on March 13, 2014, and his father who died on April 13, 2022.
His life blessed us, his death saddens us, but the hope of eternal Heaven sustains us.
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