Ella May Cook (1953)

COOK, SMITH

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/14/2007 at 08:54:56

Earlham Echo - May 14, 1953
Earlham, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE HELD FOR ELLA MAY COOK, 87

Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 13 at 2:00 p.m., for Ella May Cook at the Earlham Friends church. Mrs. Cook was found dead in her home Monday forenoon. Rev. and Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Bernard Cook went to her home after they could not get an answer on the telephone.

They entered the house and found her lying on the floor of her living room. It was thought that she had been dead for several days. Mrs. Cook lived alone but relatives and friends called on her quite often.

Services were in charge of Rev. Willard Reynolds, with remarks by Nora Craven. Burial was in the Bear Creek cemetery. Casket bearers were Wayne Cook, Otha Cook, Robert Cook, Weldon Cook, Allen Atherton and Willis Nea.

OBITUARY

Ella May Smith, daughter of Jesse and Lydia Smith, was born on November 16, 1865, on the farm now occupied by the Russell Ralston family, two miles west of Earlham, in Madison county, Iowa. She has lived her entire life in or near Earlham, except for a short time spent in California.

She was united in marriage to William A. Cook on June 17, 1920. They lived on the farm north of town, later moving to Earlham, where she has since made her home. She was left a widow by the death of her husband on January 20, 1933.

Ella Cook was a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and as long as her health permitted was faithful in attending the meetings of the church. This privilege was hers until the last two Sundays before her passing.

She found great pleasure in memorizing and giving readings, which seemed a God-given gift. She often gave these readings in public. The last one was given in her church on Easter Sunday morning.

For the past few months she has been in failing health, but she bore her physical suffering with a beautiful spirit, ever keeping her faith in the Christ whom she loved and served. She passed from this life at her home in Earlham on May 8, 1953, at the age of 87 years, five months, and 22 days.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, one sister, two brothers, and two half-sisters. She leaves to mourn her passing one brother, Woody Smith of Lindsay, California, two sisters-in-law, five step-sons, one step-daughter, and other relatives. To the step-children she was always "Aunt Ella", as she was their mother's sister.