Robert Cook

Robert O'Neal Cook, 84, husband of Barbara E. Cook, of Beaufort, SC, died Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at his residence.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 10:00am at Riverview Baptist Church with the funeral beginning at 11:00am followed by interment in Johnson-St. Paul's Cemetery in Hampton, SC.

Mr. Cook was born on December 15, 1940 in Miley, SC. He is the son of the late William Cook and Bernice Chassereau Cook.

Robert attended Miley High School and Wade Hampton High School. After school, he began his career at Westinghouse and as a carpenter before finding his true calling as a crabber. In 1971, he married the love of his life, Barbara, on December 3, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and family.

After an injury on the job, Robert turned his passion for the water into a lifelong career as a crabber. For more than 40 years, he worked the river and became affectionately known throughout the community as “the crab man.” Eventually, he passed his crab pots and business down to his family ensuring his legacy would live on in the tides he knew so well.

When he wasn’t on the river, Robert enjoyed cheering for Clemson football—“Go Tigers!”—and watching NASCAR. His afternoons were often spent with a glass of ice milk while watching The Young and the Restless. He loved bird hunting, trout fishing, and in his later years, could often be found fishing and taking rides with Barbara.

Robert will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his humor, his love of family, and his deep connection to the river that shaped so much of his life. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Barbara; are two sons, Jeffery Morgan (Lori) and Patrick Morgan; one daughter, Christine Norris (Chuck); two brothers, Eddie Lamar Cook and Joseph Cook (Renee); eleven grandchildren, Sarah Norwood (James), Amanda Morgan (Frank), Tyler Morgan (Savanna), Amber Morgan, Cody Kruger (Sadie), Megan Cook, Cassandra Norris, Scotty DeRouen, Gigi Morgan, Jesse Morgan and sixteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Betty Murdaugh, Tommy Cook, Gloria Williams, Jerry Cook and one granddaughter Marissa Norris.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Port Royal Sound Foundation. portroyalsoundfoundation.org/donate