Mintford Moses Cook Jr. of Bedford Heights, OH, passed away on August 19 at the age of 84 suddenly from illness. This loss was completely unexpected leaving family and friends shocked and deeply saddened. He will be truly missed in so many ways.

Mintford was born on January 21, 1940, in New Kensington, PA. and later moved to Cleveland Ohio. Mintford was blessed with a modest size and loving family. He met his wife Sarah Williams in 1967. They were married later on December 7th, 1968. Their romance lasted 57 years and was blessed with three wonderful children, two grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Mintford was determined to provide for his family and give them the life they deserved. He worked for the United Postal Service for 31 years. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world, something he proudly and often mentioned to anyone who listen, even up to the last day of life. He loved the lord, and often encouraged us to pray in trust in the Lord in all things.

Mintford had spinal cord surgery in 2004, which left him wheelchair bound until his death. While he worked towards walking again, he could do so a little in the first few years. In the later years he could not walk much and spent much of his time at home. However, he never let it get him down. Instead, he looked at it as an opportunity to be more available to his family, and he was indeed that. He was a constant source of support for all of us. Always available to talk us off the ledge, make us laugh, support us when we cried, and even debate with us half the night. Never was there a time in our lives when Mintford was not there. He also took the time to build guitars by hand for his children and grandchildren, and paint pictures for many. He lived everyday with positivity and determination not to let his handicap keep him from doing the things he loved.

Everyone who knew Mintford knew that he was an extremely kind, loving, warm person, who loved his family very much. Mintford is survived by his wife, Sarah Cook; his children (spouses): Lisa White (Robert White), Reion Cook (Alicia Rowe-Cook), and Shawn Cook; his sister, Emily Bryant; grandchildren: Laila White and Reion Cook Jr.; great-granddaughter Jasmine Cook; nieces: Jennifer Ford, Adrienne Williams; and nephews: Ronnie Hale, David Bryant and a host of other family members and friends whom he loved. Mintford was preceded in death by his mother, Lillian Sullivan; Step-father, George Sullivan; father, Mintford Cook Sr., grandparents, aunts, uncle, and sister, Marylin Cook.