Margaret Inez Cooke

Huntsville, Texas on September 29, 1930 to William Thomas and Fannie Susan Daughtie Love.

Margaret had nine siblings, seven have preceded her in death. The family moved to Houston, where

Margaret attended school and graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1949. She met her

husband, David Cooke, Sr, when she was in high school but refused to marry him until after she

graduated. She felt she had earned her diploma as Margaret Love and she was going to receive it as

Margaret Love. She then married David on June 29, 1949. They celebrated 69 years of marriage

before David passed away December 27, 2018. David and Margaret made their home in Houston

where they raised two sons, Jerry and David, Jr. Margaret chose to stay at home and raise their sons

but stay at home, she did not. She was active in everything the boys did. She was a Bible class

teacher, substituted for teachers at their elementary schools, participated in Boy Scouts, supported

them in athletic events and was president of the PTA in elementary, Jr High and High School. As the

President of the State PTA, she went to Washington D.C. where she had lunch with President Jimmy

Carter, at a convention for all state presidents. Her philosophy was, If you are going to be there, you

might as well run it. From home room mom to president of the PTA to chauffeur for sports event to

customer service for Houston Lighting and Power to Executive Assistant to the Harris County

Commissioner, E. A. “Squatty” Lions, she was a leader and a motivator. After they retired, David and

Margaret built a home in Huntsville, Texas. Shortly after they moved in to their new home David had a

stroke and she dedicated the next 20 years of her life to her husband's health and well being. They still

traveled and Margaret remained active in her service to the Lord, at Huntsville Church of Christ,

teaching Bible Class, organizing events, Prime Timers and supporting Foster's Home for Children.

Margaret was committed to being a Granny! She loved her five grandchildren. She took every

opportunity to be part of their lives even when they lived far away. She took them on vacations every

year; the water park or Washington D. C. or the San Jacinto monument to see a relative's name

engraved on it. She was invested in broadening their horizons and building their faith in God.

When her health failed and she was no longer able to care for herself and David, they moved to Avenir

Memory Care in Northwest Arkansas in July 2018 near her son, David and his wife, her grandson

Christopher and his family.

Lots of folks in East Texas came from nothing. Few left it farther behind. She involved herself in few

things, but seemed to wind up leading most of those she did. A self made/educated professional, she

left her mark in Texas politics while remaining staunch in the Church and the Lord. Those who know

Texas politics will recognize this as an oddity. She influenced many lives and helped everyone who

asked for it. She with her husband of of 69 years, raised two successful sons who grew, through her

example, to be leaders in their professions. She will be missed, and Texas will be paler without her.