Rosemary Cook died peacefully at home on April 7, 2016 at the age of 87, with her daughter, grandchildren and friends by her side. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother.
Born in Ohio, she was raised in Trenton, Michigan and remained a resident of Michigan for nearly 50 years before moving to Portland, Oregon in 1983. It was in Michigan that she met and married her future husband, Clifford L Cook, Jr. in 1956. Rosemary was active in the Methodist church, teaching Sunday school. She was the perfect sports wife, an avid Michigan State football fan with a profound dislike for Notre Dame and Ohio State. She was a lifelong Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers fan and enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing mahjong and gardening.
Rosemary remained active in her later years as a volunteer at the Portland VA hospital. She would be seen each week wheeling the amenities cart from room to room offering support and comfort. She was also passionate about crossword puzzles, doing the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink until recently, when she began using a pencil due to poor penmanship. However, she was quick to remind folks that she completed the puzzle none the less.
She is preceded in death by her husband Clifford, her sister, Kay and is survived by her daughter, Christie Rea, son and his wife, Clifford L Cook, III, and Filomena Cook, grandchildren Michael Irish, Jr., Clifford L Cook IV, Jennifer Rea, Kimberly Cook, Kelsey Rea and step- grandchildren Lauren and Marissa Higgins. Visitation will be Sunday, April 10th from 2-3pm at Hustad Funeral Home, 7232 N. Richmond in Portland. A graveside ceremony will be Monday, April 11, 2016 at 9am at Willamette National Cemetery where she will be interred with her husband.