Erlzie Evelyn Cook 1915-2010

COOK WINTER BURRIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/25/2011 at 20:34:42

Sioux City Journal
3 January 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Erlzie Evelyn Cook, 95, of Sioux City died Dec. 29, 2010, at Countryside Senior Living Community, after a short illness.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Southern Hills Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bob Dillman officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be noon to service time Tuesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cook was born on July 9, 1915, in Sioux City, Iowa. The former Erlzie Evelyn Burris was the daughter of William and Olive (Winter) Burris. Mrs. Cook graduated from Central High School in Sioux City. In the 1930s, she was employed as a cosmetologist and manicurist. In the early 1940s, she moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where she was employed at the Parker Pen Co. helping to make airplane parts.

She met her husband there. She married Gaylord W. Cook in 1942 at Las Vegas, Nev. After the war, the family lived in many different countries and cities. Mr. Cook was employed as a civilian engineer for the military and was also employed in the diplomatic department for the U.S. Government. Mr. Cook died on March 26, 1956, in Omaha.

After his death, the family returned to Sioux City, where Mrs. Cook was employed as a bookkeeper for a number of companies. She moved back to Los Angeles, Calif., where she was employed at the Los Angeles Civic Center, where she operated one of the first I.B.M. computers.

In 1961, she returned to Sioux City, and was employed at the Woodbury County Courthouse in the title department, retiring in 1977. She then returned to college to earn her bachelor of science degree in education and philosophy. She taught special education from 1980 to 1985.

She was always striving to learn. She and her husband learned to ride motorcycles, hot rods, and she also learned to shoot a pistol. While living in Europe, the family loved to go to the car races and motorcycle races. She was an avid traveler, willing to use a tent trailer to a motor home to go and visit family and friends. She taught herself how to type. At the age of 80, she learned Tai Chi.

She was a member of the Southern Hills Baptist Church, was also the church historian and was active in many other church functions. She enjoyed gardening and canning.

She is survived by one son, Stephen Cook of Sioux City, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; six brothers; and four sisters.