Cookie was born in Mulberry, Florida on October 6, 1927. After high school, Cookie graduated from Florida Southern University. Cookie loved her years of coaching and teaching at Sarasota, and then Hillsborough High School. Cookie married Sam Bailey in 1951, a 59-year marriage until his passing in 2010.
All who know and love Cookie will remember her as a loving, giving, athletic, energetic and positive person who was so full of life and brought happiness to so many people. She loved shelling on her beloved Sanibel Island and was very involved in the preservation and restoration of Sanibel history. Cookie was a prolific volunteer leader and was very active in many organizations including: Palma Ceia United Methodist Day School, University of Tampa Chiselers, Inc., Las Damas de Arte, Junior Womens Club, 39ers Club, Friends of Plant Park, Outback Bowl Hospitality Committee, and Citizens Alert, Inc. Cookie also started the first summer camp at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, taught cotillion, and choreographed the TYCC Christmas show. Cookie was also a fabulous cook and co-wrote a cookbook, Fun ‘n Sun Cookin’ on the Run.
Cookie is survived by her daughters Tee Ann Bailey, Toy Bailey, and Tye Carter (Bryan); her grandchildren Bear Bailey-Bubnis, Sanabelle Carter, and Kya Carter; her sister Julie Morrison; her niece Chris Kennedy and nephews John Elwood, Chris Elwood and John Kennedy; and many cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Sam M. Bailey; her parents George and Lora Lee McCook; her sisters Lee Elwood, Toy Kennedy, Gladys Turbeville and brother Melvin (Mac) McCook, her nephew Rob Elwood and nieces Kay Kennedy, Pam Turbiville and Jean Elwood.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, 5320 Interbay Blvd, on Wednesday, December 12, 4:30 – 6:30. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Palma Ceia United Methodist Day School, the Children’s Cancer Center (childrenscancercenter.org), or Doctors Without Borders.
