Mr. Harvey Wayne Cook, age 76, entered eternal rest on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Alexandria at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.
The visitation for Mr. Cook will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Pineville. Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend John Schwartz officiating.
Wayne fought through many struggles, from losing his first wife to cancer, outliving all of his siblings, to fighting his own battles with cancer, all the while never losing his spirit. He was always quick with a joke, and when times were tough, his wit could bring a smile to anyone’s face. On several occasions, we were told that he was a “handful,” mostly by coworkers and medical staff.
He loved his morning routine, riding his motorcycle and meeting up with people for coffee. He was a talented artist and draftsman, helping to design and construct many of the buildings in Piveville and Alexandria. He spent the last fifteen years working in the engineering department for the V.A. He loved his work so much and the friends that he had made that he would have been disheartened by the very thought of retirement. It’s football season again, which was his favorite time of the year. In the evenings, he and his wife, Gabie, would have dinner, then settle in their recliners with his beagle, Jackson, to cheer on his favorite teams, LSU and the Saints.
He loved his family and gave his all to help with whatever hardship. He always encouraged his children to pursue their dreams and, in the end, was happy that they had both found their place within the church and in loving and supportive marriages.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Claire Reese Cook; parents, Aron Cook and Annie Boyd Cook; and siblings, Mildred Sartin Simms, Donald Williams, Shirley Sartin, Delois Bettevy, and Ronald Sartin.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Gabie Chumney; children, Anna Bankester (Charles) and Robert Cook (Alejandra); and numerous nieces and nephews.