I spent the last 4 years working with JD and we would spend a couple of hours each day just driving. When you do that you talk quite a bit. Doing so I feel I really got to know the man. He was a good person who cared more about his family than anything. I truly miss my friend and wish he was still with us but I know he's in a better place.

My husband Ivan and I were shortchanged by not knowing JD longer. However, JD extended his warm friendship to us and never made us feel like anything other than life-long friends. JD is defined in our hearts by his warmth, his kindness, his generosity - and for me, by his endless patience with my endless questions about how things work. We are ever so much better for knowing JD.

There are times when you meet a new person and you know instantly from their tone of voice, the gentle twinkle in their eye, and their friendliness that this person is a keeper. JD is, was, and always will be a keeper.

Lisa and Iva, we are your companions as you venture through these new spaces.
<3 <3 <3
Susan & Ivan

JD was an important part of our family for what seemed like forever. I still remember when we first met him. While there are many memories, I've not spent as much time with him as we did in Costa Rica. Seeing him reel in a big one was awesome, but playing golf with him through the Costa Rican jungle was a memory I will never forget. Peggy and I have always been so impressed with his dedication and love for his family. We will miss him dearly, but after such a long battle with cancer, I trust he is resting peacefully.

Jerry was and will continue to be one of my most valued male relationships. I learned so much from working with Jerry and observing how he handled himself in his day to day. Jerry was free to be himself because he was a good person. He taught me that you don't always have to be nice to be kind, he had so much strength to his character that I'll never forget. I love you Jerry and thank you for all the good times.

Jerry Cook, my Hero! Jerry was an integral part of our Property Management business for 14 years. He could literally fix ANYTHING, but best of all, he was honest and loyal and our customers loved him. His battle with cancer never stripped him of his positive attitude or shook his faith in God. How many times I told him I could never fight like he did. What a warrior!  I know he is with his heavenly Father and I will see him again one day. I miss him EVERY DAY!

I got to know JD over the past 10 years since Lisa and I have been colleagues. When I reflect on the time I got to spend with JD, I realize a lot of it was through stories from his wife, Lisa. His family is so full of love - he was a very lucky man.

Like me, JD loved fishing and the outdoors and he and I would trade text messages when he was on the fishing boat with his Brothers in law and I would send him pictures of the trout I'd catch. 

I remember one time when JD was helping me with a project at my house and our dog bit him right in the butt. I know it hurt but he just laughed it off and told me that he was kind of used to getting bit by dogs as a handyman! Speaking of which, JD could fix about anything that needed fixing and when he worked on some projects at my house, he was very happy to show me what he was doing so I could learn as well. 

Throughout JD's cancer diagnosis and treatment, every conversation that I had with him, he always had a positive attitude and was ready to take it one day at a time. He was brave and strong. 

The last conversation I had with him was just a week before he passed and we talked about the place in New Mexico where I have a spring fly fishing trip planned. It will be the same waters where he learned to fly fish when he was
a young fellow near Silver City, NM. I know in a couple of months, I'll have a lot of time on the stream with JD and I have a feeling that he's going to be as excited as I'll be to haul in a nice fish. 

Iva and Lisa - JD was so lucky to have both of you and he was a great person. Thanks for sharing him with me and I am sorry for your loss.

-Jake Adams

JD & Lisa and I raised our kids together. We met at church, and became fast friends. We carpooled, camped, partied by the bonfire in their backyard and ate a lot of good food together. (Lisa is such a great cook, that I felt so bad when JD couldn't eat very well because of the meds. How many times did he tell me how excellent Lisa's chicken fried steak is.)

JD landscaped our front and back yard from clean slate to lovely! He also rebuilt an entire water-logged room in our house.

The ONE thing I'm most grateful for is the love and care he showed to our two boys when they were teenagers. He put them both to work and paid them well, worked them hard, taught them ALL kinds of marketable skills that have served them well in their careers. They learned handyman skills, life skills, and that he would leave them behind if they were even one minute late to work. He was the best mentor a kid could have, and we're so grateful for the time he invested to make them better men.

If you're still reading, I'll close with a few favorite stories.

#1 I slugged him in the shoulder so hard one time. I mean like a bare knuckle boxer so hard I thought I broke my hand. (He scared me on a trail hike. I reacted. Fight, not flight.)

#2 New Year's Eve 2014 we hung out at their place with friends and our kids, played Mexican Train, and it SNOWED! It was magical. I'll never forget how giggly Lisa and Jerry were, and how fun it was for all our teenagers.

#3 I'll have to tell you in person some day. But suffice it to say, he always called me Little Sis, and as a big brother, he kept me in check when I needed it. And Lord knows I need chaperones.

So I know he'll be on the lookout for the entire Quillin clan. In my mind's eye, JD is Jesus' new best friend, and he's the Mayor of his little patch of heaven.

Lisa - Your hubby trained 2 young men to be very handy. I know Levi is like your other kid. Even though he is literally moving on to greener pastures, Troy is ready to take over the yard work.

Iva - Thank you for being a best friend to Levi, and for sharing your dad with him. I always loved seeing your dad's smile and expressions when he would update me on each step in your path to success. I'll miss that expression on his face. You know that smile.

JD - Miss you, bro. Thank you for letting me be your fair-weather friend and keeping me in check. Please don't stop now.

Dear Jerry,
You were a trustworthy friend. Your life was a living epistle of "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." You thought the best of everyone and judged no one. Our lives are better because you lived. Thanks for the memories, the beautiful work you did in our home, and for your adventurous life which you lived out loud.
Jerry and Mary 

I am so happy that I got to have JD in my life. I was honored to be part of the wedding between JD and Lisa. They were very loving couple true to each other through it all. JD never met a stranger. Everyone that met him thought the world of him. There will never be another Jerry Don Cook. He was a true treasure and one in a million.

JD was one of the nicest people I have ever met Always sincerely interested in what you had to say He will definitely be missed Heaven is lucky to have him and so were we