Mack Cooke Obituary

Mack Arthur Cooke

October 7, 1944 -

July 12, 2025

Mack Arthur Cooke age 80, Elizabethton, went to be with the Lord on July 12th, 2025. Mack was born Oct 7th, 1944 in Elizabethton, TN being named after WW2 hero General Douglas MacArthur. Mack was the youngest of 5 children born to the late Walter and Hazel Cooke. In addition to his parents, Mack was preceded in death by brothers Walter (Doc) Cooke, Micheal (Mike) Cooke and sisters Lucille Scott and Mary Alice Nichols.

Mack spent 54 of his 80 years in the car business, starting his first job as a salesman in 1971 at Griffith Motors in Johnson City, TN. While at Griffith Motors he earned salesman of the month numerous times. In 1977 He opened his first dealership Nationwide Auto Sales in Johnson City, TN. During his time in the car business, he had numerous locations in numerous cities selling used autos and having franchises of Volkswagen, Fiat, Renault, AMC, and Jeep. Upon relocation to Elizabethton, He opened Magic Ride Auto Sales in 1998 which truly became a family business employing all the children at one time or another.

Mack was a lifelong Baptist and was saved early in his youth. He was a long time member of Big Springs Baptist Church here in Elizabethton. He was presently a member of Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church His service to others and community was expressed through Mack and Nancy's works of philanthropy. They donated to numerous local churches, but their true love was giving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children. They also donated land to the City of Elizabethton, in which a city park was erected as "Mack and Nancy Cooke Family Park."

Mack was truly one of a kind and will be missed by all, a unique individual who did it his way. Elvis's motto of TCB-Taking Care of Business was his mantra. As Jimmy Buffett said in a song, "Some of it's magic and some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way."

Survivors include Wife Nancy Cooke of Elizabethton, Children Mack Arthur Cooke Jr of Johnson City, Colonel Carter Honeycutt of Elizabethton, April Hardin of Elizabethton. Mack had numerous Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Nieces, and Nephews.

A Service to Celebrate the life of Mack will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastors Gary Edwards and Randy Johnson officiating. Graveside Service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2025 in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active Pallbearers will be: Christopher Johnson, Derrick Hamm, Joe Lawrence, Bryan Tolley, Kurt Alexander, Brian Miller, Jeff Underwood and Lawrence Oliver. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Stacey Street, Jimmy Street, Rick Osborne, Tim Carr, Russell Sweeney, Tom Smith and Victor Deloach. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 12:20 p.m. Friday to go in procession to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our web-site www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.