Brother of Martin Cook Passes Away

Asheville, NC (July 28, 2019) — Candler Cook, brother of Inspirations Quartet founder Martin Cook, was promoted to Heaven on Sunday, July 28 at an Asheville, NC Hospice facility following a series of brief illnesses. He was 86.

Candler suffered two heat strokes on July 2 and was hospitalized in a Sylva, NC hospital for several days. He recovered and returned home. However, he was found collapsed a few days later at his home and had to be transported back to that hospital and then was moved to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. At the latter, he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of bone-marrow cancer, and he also suffered kidney failure.

He was moved from Memorial Mission July 27 to the nearby Hospice facility.

Southern Gospel fans who attended the Singing In The Smokies that the Inspirations hosted for many years may remember Candler helping direct traffic near the entrance to the singing grounds at Inspiration Park, between Bryson City and Cherokee, NC. Like Martin, Candler was a long-time school teacher and also worked for the U.S. Park Service.

Candler served in the U.S. Army as well as the U.S. Navy and won Mr. Carolina for two years in weightlifting. He also was a cattle rancher.

Besides Martin, Candler is survived by his sister, Arbie Cook Rhodes; sister-in-law, Ora Cook; two nephews; and two nieces.

Candler’s funeral service will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, August 3, in the chapel of Western Carolina Funeral and Cremation Service in Cullowhee, NC. The family will receive friends there for an hour prior to the funeral service.

Please remember Martin and all the Cook Family in prayer. Anyone wanting to send a card, letter or note to Martin and the Cook Family may do so using the following address: 8037 Caney Fork Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723.