Florence Edna “Cookie” Cook, of Summerfield, FL, formally of The Villages, FL, was born July 13, 1939 in Greenup, Illinois. She died October 15, 2018 at Leesburg Regional Hospital, Leesburg, Florida after a short illness.
Cookie graduated from Edwards County Senior High School in 1956. She attended Eastern Illinois University before enlisting in the army in 1959 where she served until 1964. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Recreation from the University of Illinois in 1967 and her Master of Arts in Recreation from Wayne State University in 1981.
She worked in the recreation field all of her career in numerous places including Detroit Michigan, Zion Illinois, and Anniston Alabama. Upon retirement, she lived in The Villages Florida until shortly before death.
Cookie was an extraordinary athlete, excelling in every sport she played. Her specialties were in basketball, bowling, golf, and softball. Most recently she was an active softball player with the Golden Gals 75+ team and shined in her position as pitcher. She participated in the Senior Olympics where she earned many medals in various sports. Not only was she an active participant in sports throughout her life, but also was an avid sports fan, most notably a Die Hard Chicago Cubs supporter.
Cookie embraced life with an exuberance that was unforgettable. She never met a stranger and she had a remarkable ability to maintain friendships throughout her long life. Cookie also demonstrated her relational ability with every dog she ever came across. She shared her life with several canines and her faithful companion at the end was Scruffy, who is now residing with family in North Carolina. She was part of a very large and loving family that brought her great joy. There was only one Cookie and she leaves a huge hole in many lives. She lives on in our cherished memories.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews Jeff Cook, Amy Cook Perez, Chrissy Turner, Jeanette Emanuelson, Kirk Wanless, Katy MacGregor, Karin Wanless; her sister-in-law Mary Jeanette Cook and hordes of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Edith Carr Cook and Huston Cook (Albion/Greenup Illinois); her grandparents, Edna and Clifford Carr (Greenup Illinois) and Ralph and Florence Cook (Casey Illinois); her siblings Donna Cook Swilley (Tampa Florida) and Edward Cook (Mesa Arizona); her life partner Libby Hall (The Villages Florida); her nephew Jeff Campbell.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Leesburg Humane Society. http://www.leesburghumanesociety.com/
