Joyce Norrid Cook

Joyce Norrid Cook died Saturday July 2, 2011. She was born to Charles and Jane Norrid in Clarendon, TX on October 31, 1927 and grew up during the depression in the Dust Bowl towns of Silverton and Matador, TX. Her father was a county attorney, and her mother was a piano teacher. She was the baby of the family and was spoiled by her older brothers and sister, Henry, Bill and Kay. One of her grandparents called her “Spicy,” a nickname that would prove quite fitting over the years. She earned a degree in English from the University of Texas. While attending UT she met the love of her life, David Cook. They married January 28, 1949 and, upon David’s graduation from law school, moved to Corpus Christi, where they raised three daughters. She took pride in her roles as Girl Scout leader, church youth sponsor, Sunday School teacher, and PTA officer. She also ran David’s law office as his secretary, legal assistant and all-around boss. Her family grew to include three beloved sons-in-law and six adored grandchildren.

She was independent and resilient and she proved this by starting a new chapter in her life when David died twenty years ago. In 2002 she took a big leap of faith and left her friends, church and home in Corpus Christi and moved to Austin to be near her daughters. There, she reconnected with old friends and made many new friends at Englewood Estates, Barton Hills Assisted Living, and Oak Hill United Methodist Church. Joyce was many things. She was smart, feisty, sassy and funny as well as accepting, genuine and loving. She was ahead of her time, proud to be politically and socially progressive and open to change. She was an avid reader, had a beautiful soprano voice, and had many four-legged friends throughout her life. She often spoke in recent days of the joy she had found throughout her life in her family.

She is predeceased by her husband David, her parents, her brothers and sister, and many wonderful pets, especially her dog Gina. She will be missed by her daughters Katie Bond, Jane Rendeiro and Caroline Bickham and her sons-in-law Don, Chris and David; her six grandchildren, Ellen and David Bond, Rachel and Amelia Rendeiro and Darcy and Madi Bickham; her sisters-in-law Margaret Cook, Jo Cook, and Betty Sutton; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will be greatly missed by her two cats, Pronto and Winnie.

The family would like to thank Dr. Steven Dobberfuhl and his former assistant Linda Hargrove for their thoughtful, attentive care and the staff of Barton Hills Assisted Living for their unfailing kindness and compassion. In the short time she was there, she came to think of it as home, and formed strong bonds with her caregivers.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Oak Hill United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

A funeral service will be held at Oak Hill United Methodist Church, 7815 Hwy 290 in Austin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at Seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi.