The service will also be live streamed on the church’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/FirstMethodistHouston
Claude Everett Cooke, Jr., age 94, passed away on January 17, 2024. He was born on November 12, 1929 in El Dorado, Arkansas, the only child of Claude Everett and Evie Tilley Cooke.
Claude grew up in the oil field near Smackover, Arkansas where his father was an oil field worker. His family moved to Kilgore, and he graduated from Kilgore High in 1947. He attended Kilgore Jr. College for one year, then Louisiana Tech, graduating with honors in physics in 1951. He moved to Austin to attend UT and earned a master’s degree, followed by a PhD in Physics (1954). He was a member of Kappa Alpha social fraternity.
He met his future bride, Joyce Milton, in Austin. They married in 1954 and moved to Houston where he began his career at Humble Oil and Refining Company’s research laboratory. During his career at Humble/Exxon he was named as an inventor on about thirty patents and published pioneering papers in the fields of hydraulic fracturing, cementing, and other technologies related to oil and gas production.
He was named a “Legend of Hydraulic Fracturing” by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and served on the Board of Directors of CARBO Ceramics Inc., the major manufacturer of ceramic proppant, for 13 years.
At age 40 and still working full-time, Claude enrolled in night classes at UH Law School and graduated in 1974. In 1977, the Cookes hosted a foreign exchange student from Iran (Rita Dirro) for her senior year at Memorial High.
In 1985, Claude was recognized by the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association as “Outstanding Inventor of the Year.” In 2016, he was elected to the “Fluids Hall of Fame” by the American Association of Drilling Engineers, and in 2017 he was named as the Distinguished Alumnus in Physics by Louisiana Tech University.
Retiring from Exxon after 32 years, he focused on business consulting and his legal practice. He became a licensed patent attorney in 1989 and his patent law practice included prosecution of patents, preparation of patents for his own inventions, and serving as an expert witness in patent and trade secret litigation.
In 2001, the Cookes moved from their home in Houston and built a home on Lake Conroe where they hosted many social and church events. Claude loved to travel, eventually visiting every continent, and shared this love with his family with memorable trips and cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Galapagos Islands. He was an avid camellia grower for years in Houston and became active in Montgomery County Performing Arts Society when in Montgomery. Claude enjoyed music, fishing, and staying in touch with friends all his life.
Claude was a member of the Adelphi Class of First Methodist of Houston for about 50 years and was also a member of First Methodist of Conroe where he was in the Beacon Class. He was a member of the Rotary Club in Houston and in Conroe where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow.
In 2021, he authored and published his autobiography, entitled Thanks for the Lift: Life of an Oil Field Kid. The book is part of the inheritance left for his family and succeeding generations, to help them better understand life and to engender positive beliefs and faith that our lives have a God-given purpose.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joyce Milton Cooke, his two daughters Cynthia Cooke Smiley (Scott) and Janis Cooke Boulware (Ed), four grandsons Charles Boulware III (Pam Garner), Brian Smiley (Caroline), Chris Boulware (Melissa), Clayton Boulware (Kristin), and one granddaughter Jennifer Smiley. He has three great grandsons Joshua Boulware, Cameron Boulware, Wade Smiley, and four great granddaughters Margaret Smiley, Cecelia Smiley, Hannah Boulware, and Oaklyn Boulware.
Donations to honor his memory may be made to First Methodist Church of Houston, First Methodist Church of Conroe, or to the charity of your choice.
