Monterey (Monte) Cook, longtime director of advertising, promotions and entertainment for the Tulsa State Fair, left this life, his family and many friends behind on September 26, 2026.

Born to Albert (A.C.) and Lily May (Bates) Cook on November 26, 1937, in Dustin, Oklahoma. He was named by his father, a career Navy Chief who served in both WWI and WWII, his name intrigued many who met him over the years. Monte explained it: prior to his birth his dad sailed home from the South Pacific on the USS Monte rey - a large cruise ship of the elegant Matson Lines.

In anticipation of war on the horizon, it had been, along with its sister ship the Mariposa, converted into a military troop carrier.

Monte said he was always pleased that his dad hadn’t travel home aboard the Mariposa.

Immediate survivors in- clude Monte's wife, Peggy Jeanne Cook. Sons, Mark Desmond Cook of Holdenville, Oklahoma and Martin Conrad Cook of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, daughter, Montra Reed Lombard of Stillwater, Oklahoma, a brother, Oscar Bates Cook of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Grandsons, Austin Sutton and Vincent Cook, granddaughter, Brooklyn Cook. Great-grandchildren, Gracie Sutton and Ashley Sutton. Nephew, Brian Cook, niece, Rebecca Bishop and great-niece Hannah Bishop.

After growing up in Dustin and graduating high school there, he received a higher education at Easter Oklahoma State and later at the University of Oklahoma, where he majored in broadcast journalist and communication. Following college, he was employed in both radio and newspaper positions including news editor of the Holdenville Dailey News and the Okmulgee Daily Times.

Monte moved to Tulsa in 1962 to accept a public relations post at Oklahoma Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

He joined KVOO Radio in 1964 where he spent the next seven years. In 1970 he became advertising and promotions director for the Tulsa Oilers Baseball Club, working with such noted baseball minds as A. Ray Smith, Warren Spahn and Hugh Finnerty.

His long career at the Tulsa State Fair began in 1972 and continued for almost 30 years, until his retirement in 2001. During that time, he put together the Fair’s annual advertising and promotional campaigns, selected and contracted more than 1,000 entertainment acts and attractions and championed the “Fair’s” advance ticket sales effort.

An ardent OU football fan, he also loved traveling especially to south Florida where he and Peggy spent numerous vacations together on Sanibel Island.

He also enjoyed his “actor” roles in the Tulsa Press Club Gridiron, of which he participated in some 33 dif ferent productions.

Service was held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at the Hayhurst Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, OK.

In lieu of flowers, dona tions in his honor are re- quested to the Little Light house of Tulsa.