God Speed, David. It was a pleasure to have met you.
Why do people call him Cook?
My deepest sympathies are extended to you and your family. He will be missed.
It has been an honor and a pleasure, David.
I seem to remember that my Mom, his big sister, told me that when he was just learning to talk he would jabber "cook-ie cook-ie cook-ie. So, they started calling him Cook. It’s all I knew him by when we were growing up.
Tim Shea
BTW, I am awed by the responses and the thousands of views of the thread, less than 24 hours old.
“Tho’ much is taken, much abides”. My condolences to David’s family. I hope your memories will provide comfort to you.
Tim, Anne, Wilma and all of the Simmons Family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. It is a remarkable thing that we can form such strong impressions and connections with a person from a few posts on a message board. I always read David’s posts with interest and learned much from them. Unlike too many in this online world, what he posted rang with the experience and truth of someone who had been there and knew what he was talking about.
I will miss his online voice. You have my sincere sympathy for the much greater hole in your lives you will be facing.
Bill
Aw geez.
Rest well, David.
He was one of those rare participants who never seemed to offend anyone. How beautiful that he kept his intellect sharp until the end! I’m glad to know that he was not suffering.
To those who knew him in real life, I envy you. He was a jewel, wasn’t he!
Salute!
Your loss is our loss too. David Simmons will be greatly missed and the SDMB is not the same place without him. Deepest condolences.
What a loss, but such a blessing that he died peacefully, on his own terms.
I learned so much from his posts and have often wished I could meet him in person. I was so surprised to find someone here that knew where Aurelia IA is. My Grandpa grew up there, and I’ve visited my aunt in Cherokee so many times.
My best wishes of comfort to all who were close to him.
Heartfelt condolences to all the family.
He was a good man, and we’ll miss his words of wisdom.
::sigh::
I offer prayers of gratitude that you have found peace at the end of the long journey.
May those who have known you find not a hole in their lives from your passing, but the hole in their heart that you filled by living.
Rest in peace.
I’m so sorry for your loss. He was one of the best.
Po Atarau
A farewell to soldiers
Anon 1915
…travel well David. To David’s family: Kia Kaha, our thoughts are with you all.
I will be thinking of David and your family for a long while to come, and wishing you strength and healing.
I’m so sorry to hear the news. My prayers are with his family!
Rest in Peace, David. 
Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.
I never met him in real life, but I really admired him.
Very sad today.