Zane A. Cook

Zane Cook was a hard worker who valued family and friends and had a passion for hunting, fishing, motorcycles and working on cars.

In his 27 years, he made an impression on people from all walks of life.

“He touched a lot of people,” mother Darlene Cook of Waynesboro said of Zane, the second of John and Darlene Cook’s three children. 

“He’s always been so kind and willing to befriend people, even if they weren’t the most popular,” said sister Tabitha Ulrich of Waynesboro. “He had so many friends. Everyone he met, he touched.

“He was a good uncle. I have two boys, and they just loved him.”

The large turnout for Zane’s viewing and funeral, along with the many thoughtful online condolences and memorial candles on the funeral home website are an indication of the number of people whose lives he touched.

Donna Coldsmith’s son, Matt Coldsmith, and Zane had been friends since they were 2 or 3 years old, and went to elementary and middle school together in Chambersburg, Pa. Donna was like a “second mother” to Zane, Darlene said.

“We love each other like family,” Donna said.

Even though there were four years’ difference between Zane and his younger brother, Derek Cook, Matt let Derek tag along on their adventures.

“We did a lot of stuff together. We got really close as we got older,” Derek said. “We were so like-minded. If he liked something, we both did. He’d give you his last dollar and the shirt off his back. A lot of people were just drawn to him.”

Donna said the first time Zane went out hunting, he got his first buck.

“He was all boy. Anything manly, he loved,” she said.

“Oh my gosh, I didn’t want to clean out his pockets before laundry,” Darlene said, recalling the worms, bugs and toads she often would find.

Zane also played baseball and football, and cheered for the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Braves.

When the Cooks moved from Chambersburg to Waynesboro, Darlene said she had to promise her children that she would take them to visit their friends every weekend.

“They kept me to that promise,” Darlene said.

“We’d love to get together and have meals,” Donna said. “He was very into family and friends.”

During his high school years, Zane worked at the Coldsmiths’ excavation company, Coldsmith Construction Co. Inc., where he learned his work ethic.

“He learned to use a shovel. He learned to work,” said Donna, who noted that Zane was a fast learner.