Maurice Gayle Cook, Ph.D., went home to his Heavenly Father on Father’s Day, June 16, 2024, after a full life of 92 years. Maurice began his life in Franklin County, Kentucky on December 26, 1931–the youngest of eleven children born to Price and Evelyn Moore Cook. He is survived by his wife Nancy, his son Stephen, his daughter-in-law Tannen, his granddaughters Ava, Mable, Evelyn, and Rosemary, and beloved nieces and nephews.
Maurice loved to learn and to teach. His classroom education started in a one-room school in Bald Knob, Kentucky, across the road from the family farm. Maurice enjoyed playing baseball and basketball at Bald Knob High School. He graduated as class valedictorian. He was accepted to Harvard University but chose to stay close to his roots and attend the University of Kentucky. Realizing the family farm was in financial difficulty, he paused his college career in his sophomore year to return home and manage the farm. Five years later he continued his education at the University of Kentucky and earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in agronomy. He completed his higher education in 1962 by earning a Ph.D. in agronomy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a faculty position at North Carolina State University. When he retired from N.C. State in 1992 as a full professor, Maurice had taught over 8,000 students. He advised and mentored hundreds of students majoring in agronomy, soil science, and conservation. His teaching excellence resulted in numerous teaching awards, including the Alumni Distinguished Professor from N.C. State, and the Ensminger-Interstate Distinguished Teacher Award from the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. He served as the High Chancellor of the Alpha Zeta honorary professional fraternity and in multiple soil conservation societies. He also conducted extension and research activities.
Maurice loved his students. Dr. Cook was respected for the way he encouraged his students to reach their highest potentials, both academically and professionally. He particularly enjoyed teaching his introductory soils course, which often had enrollment of hundreds of undergraduates each semester. Students remember that Dr. Cook would create a photographic seating chart so he could call each student by name in class and recognize them on campus. Dr. Cook loved hearing from his former students and learning of their accomplishments. He also enjoyed advising graduate students from all over the world and endeavored to reconnect with them in his travels.
Maurice loved the farm and soil conservation. He was a staunch advocate for soil and water conservation, both domestically and internationally. He served as President of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and received the Society’s highest recognition–the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award. In North Carolina state government, he served as the Director of the North Carolina Division of Soil and Water Conservation. He worked closely with the Association of North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Districts and was inducted into the Association’s Hall of Fame. He was also elected to the Southeast Region Hall of Fame by the National Association of Conservation Districts. After retiring from N.C. State, he served on the staff of Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. as his state agricultural advisor. He later coordinated the agricultural program of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center.
Maurice loved his country. He joined the U.S. Army, completing basic training at Fort Knox in 1957. He retired with the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve after 29 years of service to the United States.
Maurice loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, he served several terms on the diaconate which included one term as Chairman. He was recognized as an excellent Sunday School teacher and lay preacher. His character reflected Christ’s example of humility, kindness, and compassion as he would put others’ needs ahead of his own. Maurice’s gentle nature was shaped by the peace and joy he found in following Christ.
Maurice loved missions. With Nancy and Stephen, he served on the mission field in Bangalore, India for one year starting in July 1975. There, Maurice taught and advised graduate students at the University of Agricultural Sciences. Through the outreach program of the Bangalore Baptist Hospital, he worked with village farmers to increase their crop yields. From 1993 to 1997, Maurice served as President of North Carolina Baptist Men and provided administrative leadership in construction of seminaries in Eastern Europe. In later years, Maurice and Nancy were involved in multiple short-term mission projects in Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Uruguay, and several other countries.
Maurice loved his family. He met his future wife Nancy at a social club dance in Raleigh in 1962. They celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in August of 2023. Maurice loved his son Stephen and constantly encouraged him, reminding Stephen often that his dad was proud of him. Maurice was a fierce Rook cardplayer and had an exceptional hook shot to win a game of H-O-R-S-E. He enjoyed cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats and the N.C. State Wolfpack, especially in basketball. He loved planning family vacations, visiting all 50 states and scores of countries. He took great joy in being a D-Dad (grandfather), father-in-law, uncle, brother, and friend.
In the gospels, Jesus tells a parable about different kinds of soils. Matthew 13:23 (NIV) says, “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Maurice lived a life characteristic of good soil–enriching and nourishing others and producing an abundance of good works.
Maurice preserved deep Kentucky roots. He owned and maintained the family farm in Franklin County. He cheered on the "Cats" and shed a tear when he heard a rendition of My Old Kentucky Home. He was inducted into the UK Alumni Association Hall of Distinguished Alumni. He was a UK Fellow and a member of the Scovell Honor Society.
His life will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 26 at Shannon Funeral Home, 1124 Main St., Shelbyville, KY. Visitation is at noon, funeral at 1 p.m. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Bagdad Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the University of Kentucky, Maurice G. Cook Scholarship in Soil Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Office of Philanthropy & Alumni, 1312 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY, 40503, or to the charity of your choice.