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The Skamania County Pioneer, Stevenson, WA., February 14, 1969, page 1 & 4

SHED COLLAPSE CAUSES DEATH

Charles M. "Merle" Cooke, 66, who lived alone on Brooks road near the Esch shops north of Carson, was killed Monday when a shed roof collapsed under the weight of nearly three feet of snow.
Cooke's body was discovered about 10:30 p.m. by his brother, Clyde Cooke of North Bonneville, and Clyde's brother-in-law Ronald Knight. they had started a search after finding Merle missing from his home.
Billy Bible, a nephew, reported the death to the Sheriff's office and Prosecuting Attorney Bob Leick, in his role of coroner, and Deputy Sheriff Jack Wright responded, along with volunteers.
Quickly on the scene were Commissioner Tonnie Lundy, Road Foreman Jim Johnson, PUD superintendent Jack Leonard and Tom Monaghan. Roy Warren arrived shortly after with a county road scoop in case it was necessary to remove the snow and help lift the collapsed building from the body.
It was possible to dig the body out with hand shovels, however, and it was recovered about midnight.
Cooke, a veteran of World War II, was retired and kept a cow and chickens at his place. Leick expressed the opinion he had died instantly when the shed rood crashed down on his head as there was no sigh of struggle when the snow was removed.
His head was barely inside the collapsed shed, his body outside and under several feet of snow.
The remains were taken to Gardner's Funeral Home where funeral arrangements were pending. It is probable services will be held Monday. An obituary will be carried in the Pioneer next week.

The Skamania County Pioneer, Stevenson, WA., February 28, 1969, page 3

RITES READ FOR CHARLES COOKE

Funeral services were held at Gardner's Funeral home in White Salmon Monday, Feb. 17 for Charles M. Cooke, 66, Carson, who died Feb. 10 in the collapse of a snow-covered roof shed near his home.
The Rev. L.R. Phillips of the Lyle Methodist Church was in charge.
Burial followed at Balch Cemetery, Lyle.
Cooke, who was born in Michigan May 4, 1902, was a logger and had resided at Carson for about 10 years. His family was formerly lived in Lyle.
Cooke was an Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving are three brothers, Clyde F. Cooke, North Bonneville, Floyd of Lebanon, Ore., and Guy of Corvallis, Ore., and four sisters, Evelyn Fardie of Everett, Alice Christie of Marcola, Ore., Maude Rowe of Hillsboro, Ore., and Charlene of Florida.

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., February 13, 1969, page 1

SHED CRASH KILLS MAN

STEVENSON, Wash., (Special) -- The body of Charles M. Cooke, 66, Carson, Wash., who was killed when a snow-laden shed collapsed on him sometime Monday, was recovered by volunteer workers early Tuesday morning.
The accident was discovered by his brother, Clyde Cooke, North Bonneville, who searched the premises when he determined that Cooke was missing.
Skamania County Coroner Robert Leick said a shovel at the scene indicated Cook had started to remove snow from the shed when it collapsed. Cook was buried under about a ton of snow.
A bachelor, Cooke was retired and rented a house 1½ miles north of Carson.
The body was taken to Gardner's Funeral Home, in White Salmon, Wash.
Charles Merle Cooke was born May 4, 1902, in Michigan. He had been a resident of Carson for ten years.
He is survived by three brothers, Floyd of Lebanon, Ore.; Clyde F. of North Bonneville and Guy of Corvallis, Ore.
Three sisters, Evelyn Fordie of Everett, Wa.; Alice Christie and Maude Rowe.