We celebrate Linda Joy Cook, whose earthly life began in Groveton, Texas on February 21, 1941 and came to a peaceful end on May 18, 2021. Linda moved from Groveton to the Houston area in the early 50’s and then eventually settled on West Drive , O.S.T. Acres, in East Houston. Linda was the middle of five kids.
Linda met the love of her life on West Drive. It all happened when one day, she realized that her best friend Kay, had an older brother named Jack. On December 23, 1957 while on leave from the Marines, Jack picked Linda up from her job at the firecracker stand and they eloped. Linda would tell you that marriage at age 16 is a bad idea and it was only by God’s grace that their love grew and lasted over a lifetime. Linda loved being a wife and mother and our memories are of her in her sewing room making clothes or costumes or standing on the step in the kitchen so she could reach dad to give him a kiss. She made all of the neighborhood kids feel welcome in our home through her warm smile or a practical joke now and then, like the time she let Mike Martin think the homemade playdough was a sugar cookie and had him take a big bite.
She would never tell you that life was always easy. Linda’s father passed away suddenly when she was in her 20’s. So many church friends and family reached out during that time and were such a big influence on her and her lifelong desire to help others. She had this way of seeing the good in any situation and raised her children to be grateful and resilient. We will never know how many lives she touched with her kindness and generosity.
Linda Cook is survived by her three children, Jack Cook, Jr. (Gretchen Cook), Thomas Fred Cook (Ellen Cook), and Rebecca Cook Baird (Lloyd “Fred” Baird); grandchildren, Jack Cook, Michael Cook, Rachel McLean, T.J. Cook, Jack Anthony Cook, Savannah Harper, Hannah Baird, Audrey Baird and Madeline Baird; sister Ruth Lindsey, brothers Howard West, Richard West and Anthony West; and numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, Fred and Lavena West and husband, Jack Cook.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 23, 4:00-7:00 pm at Kingwood Funeral Home, Kingwood, TX. The funeral service will be held on Monday, May 24, 10:00 am, at Kingwood Funeral Home. Internment will follow at Mount Tabor Cemetery in Madisonville, TX.
