Louis Carter Cook

LAYTON – Louis Carter Cook, 80, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the Layton Parkway Hospital due to complications from prolonged pulmonary disease.

Carter was born March 13, 1946, in Ogden, the son of Louis Junior Cook and Noreen Earl Cook. He was raised on Flint Street in Layton and harvested corn and alfalfa on the family farm. Carter graduated from Davis High School in 1964. He was an elite athlete at Davis, earning All – State honors in 1963 as a second baseman in baseball as his team won the State Championship and a fullback in football, where they finished as State runner-up.

Carter earned a football scholarship to Weber State, but an unfortunate knee injury forced him to switch to baseball before being drafted by the US Army in the spring of 1966. From 1967 – 1968 Carter served a tour of duty as an Artillery Liaison in the Republic of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. While in the Army, he formed an unbreakable bond and a brotherhood with his fellow Americans on the battlefield.

Following his return from Vietnam, he earned his degree at Weber and became a P.E. teacher at Central Davis Junior High. He married Karen Cheney on February 16, 1973. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.

Carter eventually became a P.E. and Sociology teacher at Layton High while also coaching baseball, basketball, football, and softball during a storied 22-year career. He was especially proud of being a coach for the 1978 State Football Champions. He loved coaching and teaching and cherished his time connecting with the students at Layton High.

Carter was often a man of few words who chose to lead by example. When an athlete got banged up, he told them to “Rub some dirt on it,” then usually applied the dirt and grass as a mystic healer to the confused or amused teenager. Carter properly balanced teaching the youth while using humor and having some good old-fashioned fun along the way. He was not loud but occasionally raised his voice and delivered fiery motivational speeches to his players who can still recount the glorious details of what Coach Cook said! More importantly, he made them believe they would win. During his career, he positively impacted two generations of countless students.

He was not flashy and he did not seek the spotlight. However, Carter shined in many roles: coach, cowboy, family man, and storyteller. Whether he was coaching on the playing field, teaching in the classroom, or being a father to his children, Carter’s greatest role was never forgetting the individual. As a disciple of Christ, he was dedicated to connecting with people and helping them realize their highest potential.

He was a member of the Park Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. He served on the Stake High Council, the Bishopric, and as a Primary and Sunday School teacher. Since his youth, Carter’s unquenchable passion was horses. This led to his love for rodeo and lifelong hobby in team roping. He enjoyed the great outdoors, namely deer hunting in the fall with his boys at the Cook cabin in Scare Canyon. He was a lifetime patient under the special care of Dr. Pepper. He was a fan of John Wayne and the New York Yankees for the entirety of his life.

His greatest pride and joy was his family. He loved his children and made each of them feel they were his favorite. Carter was the first to show up when somebody needed help. He took a keen interest in his grandchildren and always made time to attend their plethora of activities.

He was proud of his Scottish heritage and pioneer ancestry. Two ancestors that Carter admired were David Simpson Cook, who left his native Scotland to settle in South Weber, Utah and Lot Smith, the first Sheriff of Davis County. While growing up, Carter had a great relationship with his maternal grandparents, Edwin Byron Earl and Marva Udy Earl, his paternal grandparents Louis Pingree Cook and Iona Carver Cook, his Uncle Brent Earl and his younger brother Bruce. Carter often recounted stories from his youth of riding horses from Flint Street up Gentile Street to Company’s Pond with his younger brother Bruce and their friends Steve Adams and Compton Tingey in the 1950s.

Carter will be sorely missed by family and friends. He found joy in his mortal journey and shared that joy with those who crossed his path. He wasn’t a perfect man, but he was perfect for us in the things that really mattered. They say the measure of a good man is the company he keeps and the legacy he builds. Carter excelled at both. Although not physically tall, Carter was a giant of a man, and his righteous impact will echo down through the ages.

He was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Noreen Cook, his daughter Molly McCrae Cook, and his grandsons Henry and McCrae Moon.

Carter is survived by his wife Karen of 53 fantastic years, his beloved brother Bruce (Joan), his former wife Lynda and their son Kirby (Shannon). Carter and Karen raised son Chris (Denise), daughter Lisa, son Carson (Emily), son Rhett (Allana), daughter Kylie (Keith), and daughter Macey (Jeremy) and have 16 grandchildren, and 1 great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. the Park Ward Chapel, 275 Park St, Layton. Friends may visit with family Thursday May 7, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.at the Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main Street, and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment Kaysville City Cemetery.