Evalena Dell (McKibben) Cook (1958)

MCKIBBEN, COOK, HADLEY, SMITH, MIDDLETON, MCCLAREN

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 3/7/2017 at 07:05:00

Dexter Sentinel
Dexter, Iowa
Thursday, March 27, 1958

On Christmas Day, 1881, in a country home northeast of Earlham, first of a family of six children, was born to Samuel Spencer and Lillie Ann (Mark) McKibben. They named her Evalena Dell. Here in the McKibben neighborhood her childhood days were spent. At an early age she learned to help with the household duties. She attended the McKibben country school, the public school in Earlham, and the United Brethren Church at Hickory Grove where she served as organist for several years.

On January 16, 1901, she was united in marriage to Leonard H. Cook at the parental McKibben home. Two children, Berneice and Otha, came to bless this happy home. Most of their married life was spent in or near the Bear Creek neighborhood. They have especially enjoyed the years spent in their present home not far from the Bear Creek Church, a home where both family and friends were always gladly welcomed. One of the high lights of their many years together was the celebration of their Golden Wedding seven years ago this last winter.

Dell was an active member of the Bear Creek Friends Church. She has been a faithful worker in the Women’s Missionary Society and the Athenian Sunday School Class for many years. As long as health permitted she took an active part in the work of the Sunshine Circle, a women’s organization centered in the East Bear Creek neighborhood. Dell was always interested in the welfare of her family, friends and neighbors and in all the community activities, including church, school and other organizations. This interest continued thru the many months of her last illness.

In December of 1956 she suffered a stroke and heart attack. After spending two or three weeks in the Winterset Memorial Hospital she was taken to the Willard Hadley home where she received loving and efficient care. Her passing from this life to the Life Beyond came quietly during the evening of March 15, 1958, at the age of 76 years, 2 months and 18 days.

She leaves in mourning her husband and companion of 57 years, her daughter Berneice (Mrs. Willard) Hadley of Earlham; a son Otha Cook of Linden; seven grandchildren: Marjorie Hadley (Mrs. Edwin Smith), Howard and Leonard Hadley, and Marvin, Norman, Marion and Merlin Cook; also four great grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Mae (Mrs. V. L. Middleton) and Veta (Mrs. Earl McClaren) both of Des Moines; two brothers: Scott McKibben of Des Moines and Carroll of Boise, Idaho. Byron, the oldest brother, preceded her in death. Besides these are many other relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

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