Louise E. Cook

Graveside services for Louise Elinor Hall Cook, 87, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 25, 2019 at Oak Lawn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cook passed away Thursday, November 21, 2019 at West Vue Nursing Center.

She was born December 13, 1931, to John Arthur Hall and Frona Gertrude Irvin Hall.  Louise was joined six years later by her much loved younger brother, Ray.  She grew up in the “Gunter’s Valley” community and attended Barnett School, a one room school, through the eighth grade.  Louise had many wonderful memories and stories about going to Barnett.  She graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1949.  On November 6, 1955, Louise married the love of her life, Howard Cook.  Their love story was a short one; Howard died at the young age of fifty in 1978, Louise never remarried.  She loved life and was an upbeat people person, always ready to go somewhere…anywhere.  She took lots of bus trips with West Plains Bank.  Louise had worked at many jobs.  She worked at Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative for many years.  After a brief stint as a stay-at-home mom, she began working at the West Plains Daily Quill and Wilke Drug Store.  She later worked at Wal-Mart Pharmacy and Burton Creek Pharmacy.  Louise hired and trained many young women during her years in the drug stores.  They became like family to her and she often referred to them as “her girls”.  Ready for another challenge, she began working at the West Plains Chamber of Commerce office and later at Missouri State University in their satellite classroom.  She loved the town of West Plains and was also an Ambassador for the West Plains Chamber of Commerce.  Louise had a strong faith in God, which she shared with many people.  She was baptized for the remission of her sins at the age of twelve.  Louise was a lifelong member of the Curry Street Church of Christ.  When her girls were young, she told them Bible stories instead of nursery rhymes.

She is survived by her two daughters, Cindia Cole and husband, Greg, Athens, Georgia and Carol Johnson and husband, Glen, West Plains; five grandchildren, Randi Russell and husband, Cody, Chase Johnson and wife, Stephanie, Clay Johnson and wife, Aubrey, all of West Plains, Ryan Cole, Mishawaka, Indiana and Rachel Cole, Norwalk, Connecticut; six great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a very special friend, Diana Pace.

Her parents, husband, beloved brother and some of her wonderful traveling companions, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be held from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m., Sunday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to Fair Haven Children’s Home or Cystic Fibrosis of West Plains and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.