Our beloved Don Robert Cook, age 43, resident of Austin, lost his battle with Melanoma on Saturday, December 17, 2005. Don, a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend will be deeply missed.Don was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on December 11, 1962, the seventh child of Dr. Charles Cook and Cele Cook. Don was a high school graduate of St. Mary?s in Natchitoches, LA and received his B.A. in Finance from Northeast Louisiana University in 1984. He was preceded in death by his father Dr. Charles Cook of Natchitoches and his sister Janice Marie Cook. He leaves to cherish his memory a very special wife, Denise Cook; his daughters, Sammy and Carlye Cook; his mother Cele Cook of Natchitoches, mother in-law and father in-law, B.J. and Jim Stephens of Orange, CA; his sister Kathy Cook of Shreveport, LA; sister Lynn Hanks and husband Bill of Plano, Texas; sister Carol McBride of Rosenberg, Texas; brother Keith Cook and wife Betsy of Natchitoches; brother Chris Cook and wife Sandy of Murphy, Texas; brother Edd Cook of Natchitoches and step-sister Trish Zeichner of Natchitoches; sister in-law Kelly Stephens of Santa Barbara, CA; aunts, uncles, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends from everywhere Don has ever lived. Serving as pallbearers are Michael McBride, Tony McBride, Justin Cook, Ford Hanks, Roland Salinas, & Greg Womack. Honorary pallbearers are Whitney Hanks, Emilie Cook, Rebecca Cook, Christa Cook, Patrick Thomas, & Barry Perkins. Don was a devoted father, husband and friend. He grew up on the Cane River where he learned to water ski and later shared his love of water sports with his wife and daughters. He also loved taking friends out on his boat to the Austin lakes. He was an avid sports fan, devoted to the Dallas Cowboys. He was highly competitive at work and play and he loved a good game of washers with his buddies. Don achieved great success in his professional life as a pharmaceutical sales representative. He was employed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals for 14 years. He received numerous awards and bonuses for his professional accomplishments, but the greatest of these were the friendships he made. Recitation of rosary will be December 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the Mission Funeral Home Serenity Chapel (South). The family will receive friends starting at 6:30. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated December 20th 10:00 a.m. at San Jose Catholic Church. A Reception will follow at the Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00, on December 22nd at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 24 Old Georgetown Road Princeton, NJ 08540. Or Hospice Austin 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd, Ste 100, Austin, Texas 78759 Don?s memory, his love of life and family will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and love during this most difficult time. Also thanks to Dr. Hellerstedt and her staff at Texas Oncology, Dr. Camacho and staff at MD Anderson and everyone at Hospice Austin.