Cooke, Brian Alfred Stanley
Brian Alfred Stanley Cooke, 58, died peacefully in his sleep, Saturday, August 31, 2013. He was born in Deep River, Ontario to the late Dorothy (Tozer) and Joseph Alfred Cooke. Brian attended high school in Oakville and graduated from McMaster University in 1986 with a combined B.A. in Anthropology and Economics. He married Karen Sandra Watt in 1986, and they resided in Scarborough, before relocating to Burlington for many years. They moved to Barrie in 2004.
Since 2008 Brian and Karen have hosted at least 35 students in total from all over the world through Red Leaf and Muskoka Languages International, student exchange programs.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Watt Cooke of Barrie; his father and stepmother, Joseph and Eunice Cooke of Oakville; his sister, the Rev. Candace (Stan) Harvey of Burlington; two brothers, Joseph Matthew (Jill) Cooke of Burlington and Richard (Lorrie) Cooke of Ajax; many loving nieces and nephews; and his beloved cat, Dora. Arrangements have been made through Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Homes, 201 Minet's Point Rd., Barrie, Ontario. Visitation will take place Wednesday, September 4, 2 to 4 pm & 7 to 9 pm, A Celebration of Brian's Life will take place in the chapel of the funeral home Thursday, September 5, at 2 pm. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 1400-522 University Ave., Toronto ON M5G 2R5.