Clarice Vondell Cooks

I am home in Heaven dear ones, oh so happy and bright.

There is perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed.

I am now at peace forever safely Home in Heaven at last.

Obituary

Clarice was born August 24, 1929 to Allie Mae and Eddie Smith. She was the fourth of seven children (James, Eddie, Mark, Clarice, Gracie, Sam and Margaret) raised by her parents in Clarksville, Texas where she attended the local school until she met her husband, Walter Davies Cooks. They married after a very “brief” courtship on March 7, 1945 and immediately started their family having Bettye Jean and then Sallie Mae before moving to Tucson, Arizona, in 1948. Clarice served as a homemaker having four more children Carroll (Carolyn) Diane, Patsy Ruth, Allie Faye and Sheila Ann. Desiring to find a job that allowed Clarice and Walter time with their family, they searched for a job where they could work and remain true to their faith in serving the Lord. Accepting a job as a private mail contractor, Clarice and Walter worked for Busby Mail services delivering mail to San Simone, Phoenix, Buckeye, Sasabe and Douglas until retirement in early 1977.

Raising six girls was not an easy task, but faith kept them close to the church, starting with their membership in Calvary Baptist church and then Grace Temple, where the entire family thrived in the musical choir and ushering. Clarice and Walter branched out and started a family gospel group (Christian Harmonizers) that often traveled to various locations throughout Tucson including providing spiritual services to prisoners in the Southern region of Arizona. Clarice and Walter later joined Trinity Baptist church where they continued their service to the Lord singing in the choir, leading prayer meeting services, gospel group singing and spiritual presentations. Often you would find the “Cooks” presence at many church functions in Tucson where Clarice’s powerful voice would provide many renditions of “It’s Another Day’s Journey and Precious Lord.” Always desiring to serve the Lord and to reach out to others, Clarice joined West Side Church serving as a member of the choir as well as Mother of the church where she received numerous honors for her volunteer services. Fondly known as “Mother Cooks” she committed her life to bringing lost souls to Christ. You could not be in her presence without her sharing the word of God. She would always start the conversation by asking a simple question: “Do you know who woke you this morning?” Although she fell upon ill health she remained committed to helping others find Christ.

Clarice is preceded in death by her husband, two children and one grandchild. She is survived by four daughters, Betty Doty, Sallie Blake and Allie Matthews from Tucson and Sheila Garrett from Texas; 15 grandchildren; a host of great and great-great children; and her sister Margaret Mack from Texas.

On behalf of the family…

We express our sincere gratitude and thank you to Trinity Hope God in Christ church family, friends, loved ones, Desert Treasures and Agape Hospice caregivers for your love, acts of kindness and expressions of comfort extended during our hours of hurt, sorrow and bereavement. May God richly bless each of you.

The Cooks Family