Jerell James Cook

Jerell James Cook, Tatanka Isnala “Lone Buffalo”, age 18, travelled to the spirit world on Thursday, September 7, 2023, in Red Lake, MN.

Jerell was born on October 10, 2004, in Minneapolis, MN to Sheldon Cook Sr. and Tawacin (Bubba) Zephier. He attended Red Lake Elementary, Red Lake High School, and later school in Milwaukee, WI, while living with his sister, Alyssa. He was just in the process of signing back up to attend school in Red Lake. Jerell loved spending time with his cousins, terrorizing them, and also loved riding around and going to sit at the cliffs. He loved wrestling around and just having fun. He had many, many friends, and many men, who he loved being around. He always picked up his little cousin, Mari Day and went to sit at the cliffs. Jerell was a very outgoing, happy person.

He will be lovingly remembered by his parents; Sheldon Cook, Sr. and Tawacin Zephier King; brothers: Sheldon Cook, Jr., Kevin (Cook) Needham, Maurice Cook, James Miller, King Apollo Gordon; sisters: Alyssa Cook, Cante and Nakoah King-Gordon, Leah Cook; aunts: Danielle King, Anna King, Mary Ellen Cook, Kristy White, Kari Washington, Shannon Cook (who helped raise him along with Grandma Barb); uncles: Fabian Cook, Doug Cook and Dave Cook; grandmas, Adele Zephier and Joyce Fowler.

Jerell was preceded in death by his grandparents: Barb Cook and Leo Downwind, Teddi and Ida Cook; grandpa, Daniel King; grandma, Anna King; aunts: Vi Donnell, Ina Mae McNeal, Elaine Blanchard, Amelia Carson, Roberta Crowe; uncles: Hank and Donald Cook, Loren Zephier, special friend, Delaney Spears and numerous other family members.

The wake will start at 12:30 on Monday, September 11, 2023, at the Old Red Lake Community Center in Red Lake and continue until the service at 1PM on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, with Father John Christianson officiating. Active pallbearers will be: Clayton Cook, Rod Spears, Jr., Eddy Fairbanks, Sr., Billy Cook, Marcus and Monte Neadeau, Leo Cook, Dave Cook, Sr., Doug Cook, Randy Thunder, Mike, Teddi, and Fabian Crowe, Barry Oakgrove, Sr., Roy White, Nicholas Cook, Cody Cook, and Lydell Defoe Cook. Honorary pallbearers will be: Marida, Lexi and Mari Day, Remi Fairbanks, Starlee Oakgrove, Robyn and Nena Lussier, Kaliegha Sayers, Shakota Spears, Brianne Maxwell, Emiris Downwind, Rheanna Kingbird, Taleigha Cook, Cassandra and Courtney Donnell, Kelsey Johnson, Lovelynn Beaulieu, Aubby Vasquez, Anna Roberts, Ricky Spears, Anthony Day, Dezmen Cook, John Henry Barrett, Dominic Cook, Macy Sayers, Shaliegh Beaulieu, Haleigha Graves, and Delicia Roy. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Red Lake. Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker & Hackensack, MN (whisperingpinesnorth.com).

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