Mary E. Cook

Mary E. Cook, 82, a resident of Moses Lake passed away Monday, November 4, 2013 at Columbia Crest Care Center. She was born on June 22, 1931 in Louisville, Ohio daughter of the late Alec and Twila (Bracken) Wilson. My grandma is the toughest person I know. People tell me I am a lot like her. I am not sure I could ever measure up. She was born during the Great Depression and survived to tell the tale with her 5 sisters and her only brother. She married a gruff Navy man and raised two children. Grandma didn’t learn to drive until she was 40 years old, and Grandpa bought her a shiny new Ford Pinto that she promptly names Annabell. Annabell and I were on close terms until I managed to lock my 3 year old self inside and could not pull the lock back up, causing Grandma to become a little frantic. I understand the guys at the gas station were very helpful. All of her grandchildren knew we were unconditionally loved, even when we were on the receiving end of a (usually well deserved) swat to the fanny. We knew because every year we would get the same gift for Christmas and we were exited to get them. I am not referring to the socks and underwear, which I was sad to stop receiving as a teenager, but the annual passes to Disneyland. We would go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, just 3 miles up the road from the Magic Kingdom, and then take off to spend the day running amok from ride to ride. My family moved from California to Washington and it was hard to not see my grandparents practically every weekend. I was pretty attached to Grandma. Shortly after we moved she lost her only son. The whole family was devastated, but Grandma trudged through it and came out even stronger. Every year, my grandparents would take a road trip up to see us and I looked forward to spending the time with them. Years passed and I got engaged. Grandpa shook his hand, but Grandma looked him in the eye and told him if he ever laid a hand on me, he would have to deal with her. She always was my champion! A new bond was formed then and there, and anybody wanting to mess with Grandma, had to get through my husband first. Eventually my grandparents moved up to Washington to be closer to their daughter. Of course I told everyone that it was to be close to me. I think it had more to do with their great-grandchildren. Not long after the move, Grandpa got sick and we lost him to cancer. It was really hard to watch that gruff Navy man waste away, but I told you Grandma was tough. When she was 80, she announced that she wanted to go skydiving. My mother told her absolutely not. I told her I would wave from the ground. She called me a wuss and I was ok with that. Unfortunately she fell and broke her hip before she could go. Doctors told her she would need several months in a care facility before she could go home. She spent 7 weeks and hit the door running, well as fast as her walker would let her go. Did I mention that she was tough? Sadly, we had to say goodbye to this feisty lady. She was hospitalized with another injury and it was too much for her body to handle. She started saying she was going to divorce Grandpa if he did not come to visit. Since he passed away ten years ago, we figured the time to let go was nearing. Mom told her we would be ok, she could let go and go with Grandpa. So she did. My grandma was the toughest lady I knew. People tell me I am a lot like her. This doesn’t mean I should go skydiving for her, does it? I am still not sure I can measure up. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Alec and Twila Wilson; husband, Roy G. Cook; brother, Tom Leslie; sisters, Dorothy, Marge, Nell, and June; son, James Cook; and great-granddaughter, Jayden Light. She is survived by her sister, Lois; daughter, Arlene Little; 5 grandchildren, Patrick (Joy) Little, Leslie (Chris) Masenten, Michael (Brandee) Cook, Kristen (Matt) Cook, Sarah (James) Light; and 9 great-grandchildren, Tyler, Patrick, Jim, Melissa, Michael, Chelsey, Samantha, JC, and Ivy.

Mary E. Cook

June 21, 1931 - November 4, 2013