Born December 11, 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri, Kaye was the youngest child of Mildred Bernice Johns and William Kerfus Johns. When Kaye was 4 and her sister JoAnne was 11, the family moved to Oklahoma City, where Kaye attended Edgemere grade school, Harding Junior High and Classen High School, graduating in 1956. That same fall, Kaye headed to Gulf Park College for women where she met many of her lifelong friends. She was even president of her class. She spent only one wonderful year there before finishing her education at the University of Oklahoma. At OU Kaye became a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and graduated with a BS in 1960.
Upon graduation Kaye taught school specializing in special education. Kaye loved her kids.
Oklahoma City was always home for Kaye. She generously gave her time to The Junior League of Oklahoma City, Casady School and The Beaux Arts Society throughout her adult life. Kaye played tennis, golf and loved fly fishing. She and her husband of 48 years, Ed Cook, traveled the world together. A game enthusiast, Kaye and her many dear friends could be found most afternoons in a competitive game of bridge or racehorse kanasta. She was a fixture at the 8 am service of All Souls Episcopal Church.
Those who knew Kaye know that she always wore a smile. She was kind to everyone and loved by all. She was the ultimate lady - always put together perfectly and never an unkind word or thought. She loved people.
Kaye is survived by her loving husband Edward Hahn Cook of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , her three children Kerri Ellis Davis and husband James of Dallas, Texas, Joseph Ode Ellis “Jay” of Dallas, Texas, William Michael Ellis of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; her 4 granddaughters Kayla Kemmerer Ellis, Meagan Marie Ellis, Jennifer Anne Davis and Katheryne Grace Davis: her stepchildren Jennifer Cook Lewis and husband Chris of Los Angeles, California; Scott Glenn Cook of Los Angeles California: their children Robert Christopher Lewis, Chelsea Woods Lewis, Charli Gayle Lewis, William Woods “Woody” Cook, Ethan Hahn Cook, Alexa Cook Sherman and Jessica Hahn Cook. Kaye is also survived by her older sister JoAnne Johns Atkinson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Her step son Edward Hahn Cook, ll of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma preceded Kaye in death, but always lived in her heart. Kaye leaves behind many loving friends.
A memorial service celebrating Kaye’s life will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at All Souls’ Episcopal Church. A reception will be held in the parish hall immediately following the service.
The family wishes to thank the loving caregivers at Dorset Place memory care for the kindness and compassion they have shown to Kaye in her final months. We also wish to thank her many dear friends for their care and devotion to Kaye through their visits and thoughts.
The family asks that donations be made to The Alzheimers Foundation or Casady School.
Our world will never be the same without Kaye. We will miss her warm words, her sage advice, her kind eyes and her loving ways. We know she has found a much better place. Thank you for joining us to celebrate her life. Finally, in her later years, Kaye was given a nickname by her closest friends. The nickname was “Precious”. We will indeed all miss Precious!
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