Myrtle Retha (Barnett) Cook (1960)

COOK, BARNETT, MENDENHALL, PECOR, DAHMS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 7/18/2008 at 16:47:34

Earlham Echo – July 1960

Services Held for Mrs. L. L. Cook

Services for Mrs. Loyd Cook were held Tuesday, July 19, at the Earlham Friends church with Rev. Ernest Baiotto and Rev. Edna Hutchens in charge.

Music was furnished by Mrs. Willard Hadley at the piano. She accompanied Mrs. Marion Patience, soloist. Casket bearers were Willard Hadley, Oren Hadley, Archie Cook, Harold Cook, Wayne Thomas and Russell Hoskins.

Mrs. Cook passed away Sunday after an illness of a few weeks.

OBITUARY

Myrtle Retha Barnett, daughter of William A. and Anna Hadley Barnett, was born at Salem, Oregon November 5, 1891, and departed this life at her home in Earlham on July 17, 1960, at the age of 68 years, 8 months and 12 days. While still a small child she moved with her family to King City, California, where both her parents passed away before she was seven years of age. After the death of her parents she and her three sisters returned to Iowa where they had many relatives. For 13 years Myrtle lived in the home of her aunt and uncle, John and Mira Mendenhall, as a member of the family. She attended the country school at Bear Creek and later spent some time at the Earlham Academy. In 1909 the Mendenhall family moved to Oskaloosa and she completed her high school work at the Penn Academy. In the summer of 1912 she went to Salem, Oregon where she lived with her sister Bessie and was employed in secretarial work.

On May 26, 1915 Myrtle was united in marriage to Loyd L. Cook of Earlham. To this union five children were born: Alma Marie, who passed away in infancy; Marjorie Ellen, Donald Arthur, William Howard, and Kenneth Barnett. The family lived on different farms in the vicinity of Earlham until the fall of 1925 when Loyd secured employment in the post office at Downer’s Grove, Illinois. For the next 28 years they made their home in Downer’s Grove and the neighboring town of Lisle. Nearly seven years ago they returned to Earlham where they have since made their home.

Myrtle was never very rugged physically and her time and energy were very largely occupied in caring for her home and family. She was a loving, faithful and conscientious wife and mother, always striving to maintain high Christian ideals in the home. One evidence of the Christian influence of the home is the fact that one son is now on the mission field and another is under appointment by his Mission Board. She was modest and retiring by nature, but always friendly and through the years had formed many warm and lasting friendships. Those who knew her best appreciated her most.

Myrtle was a birthright Friend and was converted early in life. She retained her membership with Friends throughout her life, though the family affiliated themselves with the Conservative Baptist church during the years they lived at Downer’s Grove. Since returning to Earlham she was faithful in supporting the various activities of the church so far as her health permitted. Her cheery smile and quiet helpfulness will be missed not only by the members of her family but also by her many friends and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Alma Marie; one brother, Loren; and two sisters, Elda and Effie. There are left to cherish her memory her husband, Loyd; one daughter, Mrs. Matt Pecor of Wauconda, Ill.; three sons, Donald of Tokyo, Japan, Howard of San Jose, California, and Kenneth of Denver, Colorado; six grandsons, Peter, Howie, Stewart and Philip Cook, Glen Dahms and David Pecor; also two sisters, Bessie Barnett of Bell, California and Mrs. Bernard Cook of Earlham, besides several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.