David Lloyd “Dave” Cook died on Oct. 15, 2025 at his home in Umatilla at the age of 72.
He was born on Nov. 6, 1952 at the naval hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. to Lloyd and Eola Cook.
After his father’s discharge, the family returned home to his hometown of Pullman, Wash., where he was raised and graduated from Pullman High School in the class of 1971. Dave said growing up in Pullman in the ‘50s and ‘60s was the greatest times. He had a liking for fast custom cars from an early age. His first car was a ‘55 Chevy. Dave’s dad took him to his first drag race at Deer Park, Wash. in 1966 and he was hooked. He started racing his ‘55 at Deer Park with friends and their cars. Dave was always involved in artwork and had a love for working with colors. His art teacher suggested that he should combine his artwork with automotive painting, which was becoming his main interest.
Dave was employed at a body shop in Pullman, where he learned the basics of auto painting. They allowed him to start bringing in some custom work, and soon there were custom-painted cars showing up around the Pullman area. Dave moved to Spokane in 1976, where he continued custom painting. He moved to Hermiston in 1982, where he found “Hot Rod Heaven” as he stated it. Not long after, he was employed painting at Ware’s Autobody. Dave enjoyed working there so much, he didn’t feel like it was a job. He painted some drag race cars and others while he was employed there. It was during this time that he, along with several friends, put together a front-engine dragster that he raced. Dave started attending the Portland Swap in 1985, a big four-day event. This became an annual outing for over 30 years. After Ware’s, he worked out of a small shop on Baxter Road, still painting drag race cars.
He went to work at Haas Foods in Umatilla in 1991 and was sent to Texas in the summer of 1992 east of El Paso. It was there in El Paso where he met Frances.
They dated for 1 1/2 months and he couldn’t leave without her. They were married in October 1992 in Hermiston. Together they built another ‘55 Chevy over the next 6 years. Their son, Hunter was born in 1998. Dave loved watching Hunter grow up, going fishing and playing sports, especially football.
He loved his family, his friends and making someone laugh. Dave had been dealing with COPD and congestive heart failure for several years.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, Hermiston.
Please share memories of Dave with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
