Stacy Lyle Cooke

Stacy Lyle Cooke, 91, of Diboll, Texas passed away peacefully at his current home in Mansfield, Texas Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Stacy was born March 30, 1935 in Reagor Springs, Texas. He was preceded in death by his father, Hubert L. Cooke; mother, Gertrude Cooke; sister, Norma Beth Miles; wife, Betty Carol Cooke; and son, Douglas Lyle Cooke.

Stacy is survived by his wife, Ann Joyner Cooke; daughter-in-law, Laura Cooke; daughter, Anne Speelman and her husband Scott Speelman; daughter, Carol Mettlen and her husband Jimmy Mettlen; and son, Kyle Cooke and wife Ginger Cooke. He was grandfather to seven grandchildren, Mac Cooke, Marcus Cooke, and Sarah Terry (children of Douglas), Steven Lumbley and Marci Crumley (children of Anne), Ethan Mettlen (child of Carol), and Caleb Cooke (child of Kyle). God blessed him to live to see nine great-grandchildren, Maren and Rowan Cooke, Hallie and Hayes Cooke, Lainey and Emma Terry, Evan Lumbley, Addison Crumley, and Millie Mettlen.

After attending primary school in Reagor Springs, Stacy transferred to Waxahachie Elementary School by the seventh grade. He grew up working in his parents’ country store and graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1953. In May 1957 he graduated with an accounting degree from the University of North Texas (then North Texas State College). During his second year there he met Betty Carol Fagan of Palestine Texas (they met planning a “Sneak” for their respective fraternity/sorority), and they married in August 1957. Upon graduation he was also commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Air Force. His first employment was with Arthur Anderson & Co., Accountants and Auditors in Dallas where he spent 2 1/2 years total, split by active duty with the Air Force in Washington, DC and Wichita Falls, Texas, in the Office of Special Investigations.

In late 1961, Stacy joined Temple Inland, Inc, (then Temple Lumber Co.) in Diboll, Texas where he served in various accounting-related positions. In 1965 he was named plant manager of Temple’s new plywood operation and in 1973 was named Plywood Division Manager over the Diboll and new Pineland, Texas operations. In 1980 he was named Manager of Planning & Analysis for the Building Products Group and remained in that position until his retirement in 1997 – giving him 35 years with the company. During those years in Diboll Stacy also served on the boards of the Diboll ISD, Diboll Housing Authority, TLL Temple Library, and the History Center.

Stacy and Betty raised all four children in Diboll. The family were members of the Diboll Church of Christ, where Betty taught Bible classes and Stacy served as an elder for 34 years. He consistently dedicated his time to shepherding the members of that church, particularly in assisting the aged. He set a wonderful example of selfless servanthood to all those who knew him and was well loved for it. He was a wonderful Christian example of a Godly man to his wife and children.

Stacy loved bluegrass music, and while a good dobro, bass, and guitar player, he showed the greatest skill on his five-string banjo. He very much enjoyed “Pickin’” with several of his friends in the Diboll area, as well as being the occasional guest-star of his Waxahachie cousins’ band, The Cooke Brothers. He built two of his own banjos.

Stacy lost his beloved Betty in 2007 to cancer, less than three weeks before their 50th wedding anniversary. Later that year, he attended his 50th UNT class reunion and became re-acquainted with Ann Joyner. Ann was the widow of one of Stacy’s Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers at North Texas. They married in November of 2008, living most of their time together in Houston, Texas. He said several times that God blessed him with two wonderful wives.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Kindful Health Hospice and the Isle at Watercrest for taking such great care of our father - in particular his caregiver Norma, whom he loved and who loved him. Norma, you have convinced us that indeed angels walk among us.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation in Stacy’s name to The Boren Reagor Springs Historical Society at www.borencemeteryelliscountytx.org.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 Monday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.