Baker City, Oregon
Etta Lorene Cook, 89, a long-time Baker City resident, died Feb. 22, 2003, at her home.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Pastor Ralph Holcomb will officiate. There will be a reception at the Baker City Eagles Aerie, No. 3456, 2935 H St., after the memorial service.
Etta was born Jan. 20, 1914, at Pine Town to Roy E. and Hazel L. Schultz Hilbert. Her grandmother, Mary Marr, came to Pine Valley in a wagon in 1812.
Etta was one of five daughters. Her sisters were Ruth, Mary Jane, Georgia and Leota. She was educated at Pine Valley and through her life experiences.
On Sept. 4, 1932, she married Ralph William Cook at Kilgore, Texas. After their marriage, Etta went to work for various organizations including Boeing Aircraft, as manager of the cafeteria at Ordnance Depot Hermiston, and in the shipyards at Vancouver, Wash. She worked for 17 years at Tektronix and was a housewife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.
Etta and Ralph had a daughter, Hazel Erlene. They took in many children to give them a loving home when the need arose. She returned to Baker City in 1972 from Hillsboro after the death of her husband, Ralph.
Etta was a member of the Baker County Sheriff Possettes, the Eastern Oregon Chapter of the American Red Cross and she was a founding member of the Hells Canyon Junior Rodeo.
She loved the outdoors and really enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting. She grew a beautiful garden and enjoyed preserving her fruits of labor through canning. She spread lots of love to her family and friends. She will be remembered for her loving kindness.
Survivors include her daughter, Hazel Erlene of Lake Tahoe, Nev.; grandchildren, Ralph Donnie Vinyard and Debbie Lorene Ewing of Baker City and Heidi Marie Miller of Santa Rosa, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Allen James Otto of Hillsboro, Amy Machell Younger of Baker City, Alicia Erlene Fenk, Mellisia Alice Fenk and Derrick James Fenk all of Santa Rosa, Calif.; two great-great-grandchildren, Emilie Jaine Otto and Sydney Elizabeth Younger, making five generations; brothers and sisters-in-law, Fred, Ruby, Carl, Marie, Glenn, Lloyd, Juanita and Betty Cook; and numerous nephews, nieces and many friends who were all loved dearly.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 13, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor