Ernest Morton “Ernie” Cook, 88, of Shelbyville, passed from this life to his heavenly home Saturday, August 6, 2022, at Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, August 11, in the chapel of Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Brother Scotty Sorrells officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.
A native of Shelbyville, Ernest was born November 11, 1933 to the late Albert P. and Georgia Cook. Along with his parents he was preceded by brothers, H.B. Cook, Madison Cook and Ralph (Annie) Cook; and grandparents, Hiram B. and Tennie C. Cook.
Ernest left school to join the Navy during the Korean War, serving on Operation Castle, a project with a series of high-power nuclear tests by Joint Task Force 7 (JTF-7) at Bikini Atoll beginning in March 1954. After he returned from the service, he opened Ernie Cook & Son Motors in Shelbyville. He loved serving his hometown and selling vehicles to them. At the time he was married to Jeanette Collins Cook. Ernie loved to spend time at the lake and fish, fish, fish. He would tell all his friends tall tales of what he caught. He loved Tennessee Walking Horses and loved showing them in local horse shows. Ernie loved music! He loved bluegrass, country, and gospel. He played several instruments and sang. He had a hit song called “Shut Your Big Fat Mouth.” He was on the Ralph Emery Show and the Grand Ole Opry. He sang with country music legend Bill Monroe. He could have had a career in singing but decided to sell cars and have a family. He played and sang at local events and restaurants.
Survivors include loving wife of 21 years, Dianne Cook; son, Ernest Timothy Cook of Shelbyville; daughter, Susan (Howard) Wilson of Lascassas; former daughter-in-law, Karen Landers Cook of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Whitney Cook, Taylor Beth (Daniel) Batten, Madison Layne Cook of Shelbyville, Claire (Kris) Oliver of Lascassas, Matt (Turner) Wilson of Murfreesboro; great-grandchildren, Ada Leigh Virginia Oliver, Locke Matthew Oliver of Lascassas and Holt Thomas Wilson of Murfreesboro; step-daughter, Shawn (Daniel) Shearon; and step-grandchildren Coble, Katelen, and Sarah Shearon of Shelbyville. Also, his faithful pup “Andy”.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Mt. Olivet Methodist Church by mail: c/o Marian Arnold, 220 Megan Circle, Shelbyville, TN 37160, or to New Destiny Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 42, Wartrace, TN 37183, newdestinydogrescue.org.
Doak-Howell Funeral Home is serving the family.
www.doakhowellfuneralhome.com
