I never liked the phrase “mother in-law”,  I’m not sure why, I just know that when my older brother and sister’s became married, the word mother-in-law was always used with out much concern and  often said with criticism after it. Or was it because I knew that if was going to have a husband for the rest of my life, his parents were going to be my family too.  That is exactly what  Irene did, she made sure I was part of her family.  Irene was a very strong lady, she raised many foster children over the years. Cooking, cleaning, and caring for them.  She said some would come and go and some would break your heart, but she let whomever it might be, they were family and her home was there home.  She and Oscar where special like that.  Irene was the sweetest lady, of course I will never forget when I asked Mike where are we going out for our second date, to Mama’s, he said. I said ok, cause I just knew I wanted to meet this funny and lively family he came from! Little did I know, dinner at Irene’s was quiet, big plates of delicious food, but not one word durning dinner was said, not one word!  I quickly learned, I was back in Arkansas, in the presence of a loving lady Irene.  Irene was a wonderful cook, and loved cookbooks, but she didn’t need one, she knew all of her dishes. She could deep fry okra, and make an incredible banana layer dessert.  I even practiced her Cornbread stuffing with her, and still doesn’t taste the same, sorry Mike. Irene had many traits, and if you were fortunate enough to be beside her as much as I was, you would learn a lot! It was kinda like spending  time on a Pinterest Page one afternoon, who needed Pinterest, as long as you were around this remarkable lady, she know how to see through an egg! Irene knew every plant and vegetable around, and there wasn’t anything she couldn’t grow.  Like I said in the beginning  I never liked the word, Mother-in-law,  I was blessed by knowing this wonderful lady,  from the first day she said call me Mom!

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Harold Cook

Linda Cook

Michael Heard

Millie Heard

Carol Hawkins

Debra Creek

Mrs. Irene Heard leaves behind seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren to honor her memory.

Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD504)

Kevin Winkelman

Trevor Cook

Phillip Cook

Kolby Winkleman

Drew Smith

Rudy Covarrubias

Irene Heard

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Irene Heard

27 April, 1929 – 25 October, 2019

Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service

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