Barbara Ann Cook, 81, of Woodlawn, Illinois, went home to be with her Lord and Savior at 7:22 pm Sunday, June 13, 2021. She passed on peacefully with an overflowing room of family by her side at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Barbara was a godly woman having accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 13. She was baptized into the fellowship of the Ina Baptist Church, while the Rev. Fred Boatwright was the Pastor. Years later Rev. Boatwright would officiate Barb and Don’s wedding. Barbara was an excellent employee and spent most of her working years as bookkeeper for the UMCH in Mount Vernon. She retired as the CFO after 29 years of dedicated service. She was Don’s true help-mate and spent many hours serving alongside him in the local Ruritan club, and the Ina Grade School PTA. She was a knowledgeable and caring Sunday school teacher from young wife and mother days until recent years. When under the church’s protest, she declined the position because she wanted to give someone younger the chance. She spent hours and hours on the road hauling her children, and often others, to practices, rehearsals, lessons, meets, ball games, plays, and concerts. An excellent cook and baker, many meals have been prepared by her for family, friends, co-workers, and those in need. She was an avid reader and active prayer partner. She believed in discipleship and mentoring, sacrificing time to participate in both. Her favorite music was southern gospel, her favorite group the Dove Brothers. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee, chocolate turtle candy, reading into all hours of the night, and in-depth bible study. Her family and friends were important to her and you knew that when you were with her. She was a true friend and you knew that. When you were apart, she was thinking of you and praying for you. She loved without measure and forgave freely. She is loved immeasurably and will be missed until we meet again on the other side of eternity in Heaven.
A Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 11:00 am at Hughey Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Fuller officiating. Interment will follow at Kirk Cemetery in Ina, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Barbara’s honor to Kirk Cemetery. Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
Barbara is survived by her loved family: children, James Raymond Cook of Granite City, Illinois, Catherine Louise Rister and husband Bob of Norris City, Illinois, Byford Olin Cook and wife, Abbi of Albion, Illinois, Mark Lee Cook and wife, Jodi of Saint Charles, Missouri, Patricia Ann Pace and husband, Brad of Woodlawn, Illinois, and Sandra Dawn Jones and husband, Brad of Bonnie, Illinois; grandchildren, Pamela Penny and husband, Jameral, Matthew Cook, Michael Cook, Timothy Prest and wife, Kendra and their children, Cooper, James, and Ellie, Andrew Jones and wife, Linzy, Bryan Pace and wife, Courtney and their children, Braxten and Paisley, Hannah Cook and spouse, Jordan and their son, Isaiah, Randy Jones and wife, Mica, John Pace and wife, Karin and their children, Roman and Eden, Olivia McGrew and husband, Owen and their children, Will and Campbell, and Elias Cook; best friend, sister, Helen Kash and husband, Kenneth of Bonnie, Illinois; niece, Tammy Shelton and husband David of Woodlawn, Illinois; and many close personal friends and large church family at First Baptist of Woodlawn.
She was born March 30, 1940 in Woodstock, Illinois to the late Cullie Jones and Eleanor (Fuller) Jones Mickelson. Barbara married the love of her life, Donald Lee Cook on December 6, 1957. They were blessed with nearly 50 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on November 4, 2007.
