1971 ~ 2016
On Friday, December 30, surrounded by family, Brett Harding Cook succumbed to complications related to Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Now, the time has inconveniently, but inevitably come for him to join his dear mother, who passed away thirteen years earlier. In those last few moments of what felt like "time on hold," family surrounded our incredible father, husband, son, brother, nephew, uncle, and friend, enjoying his scintillating humor to the end. In that "Brett brilliance" that will forever be his own, he expressed in his last dying quips a great gratitude, love, and aspirational attitude toward always moving forward.
Born to Willard Stott Cook and Jeanne Harding Cook on October 30, 1971, Brett experienced trauma early. As a busy two year old, Brett broke his leg in a bicycle accident and was subsequently diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. In spite of this debilitating disease, he moved forward with a blessed childhood filled with little league baseball, scout outings (he earned his Eagle Scout), weekly movie nights with his mother, and weekends with his dad cheering on his beloved Utah Utes and Dallas Cowboys.
Brett graduated from Olympus High School with honors and then from the University of Utah with a bachelor of science degree in Physical Therapy Studies, again with honors, and was commencement speaker for his department. He then served an honorable two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas Dallas Mission before returning to graduate school, obtaining a master's degree in Physical Therapy. Graduating cum laude, he was again a commencement speaker for his class. His schooling was often interrupted by surgeries for hip and knee replacements, but with incredible character and optimism, Brett chose this career as a way to give back to others the care and compassion he had been shown as a young patient.
Throughout his career, he demonstrated that even as a JRA sufferer, there was no task he couldn't do and he had that special ability to give patients hope. Brett was always funny and he demonstrated a never-ending willingness to help. For more than fifteen years, he worked as a Physical Therapist for Mountain Land, Legacy, and other home health companies. In addition, he served for many years on the board of the .
Brett ultimately met and married Colleen Jean Carney, his equal and the love of his life. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple by Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, a dear family friend and Brett's childhood physician. Brett was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He magnified many callings, but especially loved teaching the gospel and working in the Young Men's program.
Brett is survived by his wife and six children: Faith (15), Isabelle (13), Aurora (12), Victoria (5), Will (4) and Costner (1); his father, W. Stott Cook; his two sisters, Julie Pulsipher (Alex) and Jennifer Bell (Tim); and several uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jeanne Harding Cook.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 5, at 11:00 a.m. at the Lehi Utah West Stake Center, 1920 North 500 West in Lehi, Utah. A viewing will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, January 4, between 6:00-8:00 p.m. and also prior to the service on Thursday, January 5, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive in Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Utah at www.arthritis.org/utah.