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Friends, flowers, fiddle music, teardrops, and plenty of funny stories made the A.C. “Ace” Cook memorial a poignant but happy place to be on Monday afternoon.
ACE'S FAVORITE COWBOY HAT HUNG ON A PORTRAIT THAT I TOOK OF OL' ACE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
ACE'S FAVORITE COWBOY HAT HUNG ON A PORTRAIT THAT I TOOK OF OL' ACE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

About a hundred people showed up at the Van Cliburn Recital Hall in downtown Fort Worth.

STOCKYARDS PLAYERS STEVE MURRIN, LISA HATTAWAY, AND BEN SHRAKE PAY FINAL RESPECTS TO ACE COOK.
STOCKYARDS PLAYERS STEVE MURRIN, LISA HATTAWAY, AND BEN SHRAKE PAY FINAL RESPECTS TO ACE COOK.

Folks mingled while a pianist played some of Cook’s favorite music, and then everyone sat down to listen to family and friends say their goodbyes.

ACE COOK'S ENTOURAGE: FRIEND AND EMPLOYEE BILL MACKEY, DAUGHTER CHARLENE COOK LINDSTROM, GRANDSON NICK, SON-IN -LAW MARK LINDSTROM, AND GRANDSON BRETT
ACE COOK'S ENTOURAGE: FRIEND AND EMPLOYEE BILL MACKEY, DAUGHTER CHARLENE COOK LINDSTROM, GRANDSON NICK, SON-IN -LAW MARK LINDSTROM, AND GRANDSON BRETT

The guest list included a mixture of artists, museum directors, art collectors, bikers, curators, writers, college professors, and other assorted characters that called Ace a friend.

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The table settings were pure Ace:

ACE COOK WAS AN AIRLINE PILOT WHO REFUSED TO BECOME A SCAB DURING A STRIKE, SO HE CHANGED CAREERS AND BECAME A PAWN BROKER, ART COLLECTOR, AND STOCKYARDS BUSINESS OWNER
ACE COOK WAS AN AIRLINE PILOT WHO REFUSED TO BECOME A SCAB DURING A STRIKE, SO HE CHANGED CAREERS AND BECAME A PAWN BROKER, ART COLLECTOR, AND STOCKYARDS BUSINESS OWNER

The stories came fast and furious, as was fitting considering the enthusiastic manner in which Ace lived his life.

WIFE DIANE AND DAUGHTER CHARLENE TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
WIFE DIANE AND DAUGHTER CHARLENE TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
NOBODY PRAYED HARDER THAN GRANDSON BRETT.
NOBODY PRAYED HARDER THAN GRANDSON BRETT.
MORRIS MATSON TOLD A FEW TALES ON ACE.
MORRIS MATSON TOLD A FEW TALES ON ACE.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Just thought of something. Monday was the first time I ever spoke in Ace’s presence when he didn’t interrupt and correct something I was saying about him so it was a good day afterall.

  2. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone that was with me that day, both in body and in spirit. My father would have been very touched by the outpouring of love that was in that room…somehow I have a feeling that he was with us…and Morris, I think he was 100% o.k. with what you had to say – FINALLY!!!

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