Myrtle was born Sept 9, 1920 in Whitemouth, Manitoba to Joseph and Elizabeth Cooke. The family lived in a small cabin on the banks of the Whitemouth River where Myrtle and her siblings spent many hours frolicking in the river, hence Mom’s subsequent love of swimming.
Due to family financial restraints, Myrtle was required to end her education at Grade 9 to pursue employment. She found work as a live-in housekeeper for different families where she was expected to perform all housekeeping tasks including cleaning, laundry, baking and cooking all meals from scratch for $6 a month!
When WWII broke out Myrtle found employment in a munitions factory. She met Boyd Cooke during that time and he was so taken with her he wrote his mother to make sure they weren’t related. With his mother’s assurance, he asked Myrtle to marry him. They married in July 1941 and when Boyd was discharged, they moved to Grovedale, Alberta. While there Myrtle fulfilled a dream and opened a small grocery store. In due time, they moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta and continued in the grocery business.
Myrtle and Boyd raised four children, Barry born 1943, Darlene born 1946, Maxine born 1949 and Deanne born 1959.
She was an avid and accomplished curler, skipping a team to the Alberta Provincial Play-offs. She was on the executive of Ladies Auxiliary of Royal Canadian Legion and marched in the Nov 11 parade many times, often braving bitterly cold weather.
In 1972 the family (of 3 by then) moved to Chilliwack in search of a balmier climate and Myrtle found employment as a sales clerk at Suzanne’s and later Sears.
After 41 years of marriage, Boyd died in 1983. Myrtle married Rick Stevenson in 1985 and together they spent their time traveling, gardening and participating in the senior social scene in Chilliwack; dancing, carpet bowling, playing crib and participating in the Heart Club.
Rick passed in 1995, and in 1998 Myrtle married Hunter Brodd. Myrtle and Hunter continued to participate in many social activities until Hunter’s passing in 2003.
She was an excellent seamstress and sewed beautiful dresses for herself and her girls. Her knitting skills were second to none; she often knit elaborate sweaters (without a pattern) to be donated to those in need.
Myrtle had a heart of gold through and through and rarely had a bad word to say. She was extremely proud of her family, as they are of her. She was a beacon of light in a sometimes gloomy world.
She is survived by daughters Darlene (Cliff), Maxine (David) and Deanne (Kevin), 12 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Cooke, brothers William, Joseph, Andrew, Kenneth, sisters Evelyn, Frances, Alice, son Barry and husbands Boyd Cooke, Rick Stevenson and Hunter Broddy, and good friend Murray Haugh.
She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
A funeral service for Myrtle will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Henderson's Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 45901 Victoria Ave, Chilliwack, BC V2P 2S9. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Chilliwack Cemetery, 10011 Hillcrest Rd, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4C5.
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