Obituary: Lucille Marie Cook

Lucille Marie Cook, born Feb. 15, 1921, in Dumas, Texas, to Henry and Hester Jameson, passed on to her glorious eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ on April 11, 2009, at the age of 88.

Raised by her beloved grandparents, Mae and Albert Davis, and her Aunt Gladys in Amarillo, Texas, Lucille graduated from Amarillo High School and West Texas State College with a degree in education.

In Houston, Lucille became a professional Girl Scout for five years, training leaders, supervising troops, city day camps, and was program director for Camp Tejas (a Houston established camp). Lucille also participated in the local USO.

Lucille was married in 1946 to Marine Marvin Welch. Together they had three sons before Marvin's death in 1954.

Lucille began her teaching career in 1950 and by 1962 she relocated to Prescott, where she married Melvin Cook. Together they had a son and a daughter. She was employed at the old Prescott Community Hospital as substitute teacher and was a bookkeeper for Moore's Laundry, which her son, Spencer, eventually bought. Later on she worked at Automation, then returned to teaching at Prescott Christian and Maranatha Christian schools before retiring in 1983.

During her lifetime, Lucille completed 30 years of service with the Girl Scouts, was active in the PTA at Taylor Hicks School, helped to start and organize the citywide Halloween carnival at the fairgrounds for several years and, in 1984, received the Most Valuable Volunteer of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce. Lucille and Melvin were charter members of the Prescott 4X4 Pioneer's Club and enjoyed many trips in the back country until his death in 1990.

Becoming a Christian at the age of 14, Lucille taught adult and children Bible studies and was involved in mission outreach throughout the ensuing years. She was an active member of the First Southern Baptist Church (now Willow Hills) and was recognized as Senior Citizen of the Year in 1983. Her church family is held dear to her heart and soul. Lucille's faith carried her throughout her life.

Preceding Lucille in death are her four sisters; her husbands, Marvin Welch and Melvin Cook; her sons, Spencer and David Welch; and two grandchildren. Survivors include brothers Jack Brown of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Tom Brown of Fort Worth, Texas; children Stephen Don (Judith) Welch of New Zealand, Terry (Christine) Cook of Prescott, Ariz., Wendy (Tom) Roberts of Rim Rock, Ariz., Bill (Sharon) Cook of Wyoming, and Jim Bob (Anna) Cook of Mandeville, La.; 22 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Lucille's viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. April 15, 2009, at Heritage Memory Mortuary, 131 Grove Ave., Prescott, Ariz. An invitation is heartily extended to anyone wishing to share in a Celebration of Lucille's Life at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Willow Hills First Southern Baptist Church, 1071 Mongollon Road, Prescott, Ariz. Lucille requested donations be made to The Church on the Street, 105 W. Carleton St., Prescott, AZ 86303.

Information provided by survivors.