Harold Dean Cook Sr.

Harold Dean Cook, Sr., was born on April 23rd, 1935, in Clover, South Carolina. Harold and his family returned to the Blairsville area in 1944. His father and mother bought land in the Dooley section of Union County, 64 acres. They cut down trees on the property and took them to the sawmill to build their house. Neither house had indoor plumbing, and they got their water from a spring; they didn't have electricity either. Electricity was put in when Harold was 14, and he wired the house. A school house was already on the property, and the teacher's name was Elmer Thompson. Harold was in Mr. Thompson's first class. Harold went on to high school, but a polio epidemic shut down the school. While the school was shut down, Harold got his books from the book mobile, so he could keep reading. Harold joined the Air Force in 1957, and was stationed in Kansas City, Missouri. He decided to get his high school diploma, and he got his diploma from Blairsville. Harold married Karen Barnes in 1961,. They found an apartment in Atlanta for $75.00 a month, so they moved there for work. He worked for Colonial Bakery for 5 years; 6 days a week ,and never missed a day of work. His wife, Karen, always had dinner waiting when he got home. They moved back to Blairsville and he worked for W. Townson in Murphy and went on to work at Georgia Boot. He worked for Georgia Boot running a planer. He worked overtime every chance he had. In 1971, he stopped at a tire shop to get a tire fixed and was offered a chance to buy the tire shop. During that time he was the Chairman of the Republican Party of Union County for 12 years. He ran the party so well, that in 1995, he ran for the office of Commissioner, won the election, and took office in 1996. Harold was the first elected Republican Chairman Commissioner in Union County. He cut taxes and did everything he promised to do! After he got out of office, Harold ran the tire shop for 50 years. He joined the Lions Club in 2000 and was part of it for twelve years, and held the office of President for a period of time. Harold appreciated all the help received from the local citizens. With the help of God and his wonderful wife, Harold lived a good life.Mr. Cook was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Preceded in death by his wife, Karen Patricia Cook, who passed away in 2019.Surviving family members include two sons: Harold Dean Cook, Jr., and Michael Cook, both of Morganton, Georgia; a daughter, Kimberly Aragon & her husband Ryan Aragon, of Mineral Bluff, Georgia; a brother, Ronald Cook, and his wife; a sister, Rose Marie Terry and her husband Jim Terry; and a sister, Laura Ann Cook. Grandchildren, Katlyn Cook, Ashley Cook, Addyson Aragon, and Isabelle Aragon. Great Grandchildren, Holden Harper, Milah Moreno, Christopher Cook, and Courtney Rogers.