MECHANIC FALLS – Jesse L. Cook Sr. died Feb. 10.

He was born in Auburn, June 30, 1927, the son of Robert K. Cook and Josephine F. Lane Cook. He attended schools in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1947.

He worked in Maine for several years before moving to Connecticut. In Connecticut, he owned his own painting and wall papering business. He was proud to say that he had painted and papered Andrew Wyeth’s home.

He moved to Cape Cod, Mass., in the 1960s and managed two family style restaurants and eventually owned his own restaurant in West Yarmouth.

He returned to Maine in 1970, and worked at several area restaurants. He also did painting, carpentry and other odd jobs and built his own home. He was an avid craftsman and made many hand-carved wood products.

In 1980, he co-owned and operated JJ’s Restaurant in Mechanic Falls, retiring in 1988. He was a member of the America Legion Post 150 in Mechanic Falls.

In later years, he was known as the “bird man” of Mechanic Falls for his efforts in saving the lives of hundreds of pigeons taking shelter in local buildings. His love of animals was well-known and he always had no less than five cats to take care of at any one time. He nurtured and fed many wild animals including raccoons, skunks and a large variety of birds.

He is survived by four sons, Alan Cook, Jesse Cook Jr., Daryl Cook and Robert Cook; four daughters, Susan Cook, Diana Collier, Dale Driscoll and Brenda Dill; many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Melba Reynolds and Marilyn Wilkinson.