Don Selman Cook

Don Selman Cook, 72, of Brazos Country, Texas died at his home on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016. Don was born March 14th, 1944 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Dorothy Harris Cook and Enoch H. Cook. He grew up along with three siblings--Sue, Jack, and Jan--and attended school in McAllen, Texas from first grade through high school. He was in the honor society and graduated from McAllen High School in 1962. While there he played three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. He attended Victoria College and then graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Accounting in 1967. While there, he also completed the coursework for a Master's in Professional Accounting. While at college, he met and married Rosemary Fife in 1968. Later on they would have two children--Gregory and Marion. As a Certified Public Accountant he did an internship with Arthur Andersen & Co., New York, NY until 1968. He transferred to Houston, Texas and continued working for them through 1975 as an Auditor and Audit Manager. He then worked for Keystone International, Inc. from 1975 to 1988, rising to the position of Vice President, Controller. While still based in Houston, he traveled to the company's worldwide operations, including Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. In 1988, he was promoted to President of Keystone Gadelius Corporation and moved along with his family to Kobe, Japan. In 1991, he and the family moved back to America, where he assumed presidency of Keystone Yarway Corporation in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. He moved on from Keystone and worked as an independent consultant for multiple companies in Houston, New York, and Romania from 1996 to 2000. Next, he worked as the CFO and Assistant to the President of Bray Controls from 2001 to 2005, when he retired from his 40-year career in corporate finance. In retirement, he continued to enjoy traveling and never tired of exploring America's country roads. When at home, he loved reading mysteries and newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle and New York Times--often with one of his two cats on his lap. He also enjoyed patrolling the fence line of his acre in the countryside upon his John Deere riding mower. Don is survived by his wife, Rosemary Fife Cook, of Brazos Country; his son, Gregory Fife Cook and his wife Danielle, of Houston; his daughter, Marion Fife Cook of Boise Idaho; his sisters, Sue Cook Halbert and Jan Cook Wilson, of Cuero; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, in-laws, and friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jack Cook. Per Don's wishes there will be no public memorial service, but if you wish to express condolences or share memories please use the website's guest book for Don.