Hurley S. Cook, Jr. was born in Pensacola, Florida on August 25, 1944, to Hurley S. Cook, Sr. and Johnnie Merritt Cook. Hurley’s father was in the U.S. Navy, so the family moved during his early years (Birmingham, AL; Gadsden, AL; Charleston, SC; and Orange, TX) before his father worked, then retired, in Durham, NC.

Hurley attended Northern High School in Durham; playing football and baseball (earning MVP honors for baseball his senior year).  He then attended Auburn University, graduating with an Industrial Engineering degree in 1967. Auburn is also where he met and fell in love with Brenda Kicklighter. They were married in September, 1967; both graduating in December.

Hurley then attended the Air Force Officer’s Candidate School San Antonio, TX. He was stationed at Eglin AFB, FL as a brand new Second Lieutenant. He served in the Air Force Foreign Technology Division and the Guns and Rockets Development Divisions a total of 4 years, attaining the rank of Captain.

In December 1971, he received an honorable discharge from the Air Force and moved his family (Brenda and Trey) to Savannah, GA, and joined Savannah Tire & Rubber Company, a local business established in 1951, by his father and mother-in-law, M. J. Kicklighter and Dorothy Kicklighter. He would work with Savannah Tire, joined in 1995 by his son, Trey, until his retirement and the sale of the company in 2015.  He often commented that it was the employees he worked with at Savannah Tire that made the company great … and provided a family atmosphere for those who chose to help build a small, 3-store retail automotive service operation into a 9-store, industry-recognized, retail tire and service leader.

Hurley loved ordering appetizers, funny movies, old westerns, laughing, reading, challenging puzzles, playing cards with his grandchildren, and sharing what he had with others. He was humble, generous, funny, kind, bold, and unselfish. His family is what really mattered most to him, and known as “Pop,” he traveled far and wide to support his 4 grandchildren in sports and in life. He taught his family that if you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life; that today is your day, and no one can ruin it; that worrying about something will never solve it; and that life will be far more enjoyable with a sense of humor.

Hurley had a strong faith and was active locally in the Methodist Church, serving as chair of the Administrative Board and Trustees at White Bluff UMC; and later, as chair of the Trustees at Isle of Hope UMC; and Finance Committee of Skidaway Island Methodist Church.  He was a charter member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Savannah South, retiring with 30 years of perfect attendance. In retirement, Hurley enjoyed golf with close friends and family and fishing around his Moon River home.

In addition to his wife of 58 years, Brenda, he will be deeply missed by his son Hurley S. Cook, III – Trey – (Libby), daughter Marla Grady (Alexander), grandsons Jack Cook (Mallory Morris) and Carson Grady, and granddaughters Lainey Cook (Thomas McCarthy) and Mary Paige Grady, sister and brother-in-law (Dick and Mary Ann McCabe of Pensacola, FL) and brother (Barry A. Cook of Pensacola, FL), and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Sunday, January 25, 2026 at the Fox & Weeks Hodgson Chapel. The Funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Monday, January 26, 2026 at the Skidiway Island Methodist Church. The Burial will immediately follow the service at Bonaventure Cemetery.