K. MURIEL COOK

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K. MURIEL COOK
July 31, 1920 - September 22, 2020

We are saddened to announce the passing of our dear mom and grandma, Kathleen Muriel Cook, on September 22, 2020. Muriel lived in her own home right up until her short illness.
Muriel is survived by her son Hugh, his wife Arlene, and her three much loved grandchildren, Fraser, Kathleen and her husband Kurtis, and Lauren, along with her daughters-in-law, Janet and Janie. Mom is also survived by her brother Dave Smith and sister-in-law Laura Smith, and many nieces and nephews she was very fond of.
Mom was predeceased by her husband Donald, sons, Malcolm and Bruce, parents, Clarkson and Ada Smith, brothers, Douglas and Gordon, and sisters-in-law, Helen and Gwen.
Although Mom was born in Winnipeg, she was raised in both Hamiota and Brandon.
Mom had very strong beliefs about lifelong education for herself and for others. Mom graduated Class of 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts from Brandon College.
To further this she went back and, at age 52, received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba.
Mom taught school for a number of years, beginning in Miniota and concluding in Winnipeg at the Adult Education Centre. Mom enjoyed teaching and the imparting of information and learning.
Mom's interest in learning was also one of the reasons she became a beekeeper in the 1960s for several years, alongside her sweet tooth. Keeping bees was hard work and everyone got to participate in Mom's hobby when it came to honey extraction days.
Mom met Dad at a dance in Brandon, just prior to his embarkation for the Second World War for D-Day.
They were married on July 17, 1948 and were happily married for 62 years until Dad's passing in 2011. In the beginning, Mom and Dad lived a number of years in Winnipeg, then Ridgeville and then retired back to Winnipeg.
Dad and Mom started farming in the 1960s and later with their two sons, Hugh and Malcolm, in the 1970s and 1980s. Mom took part and was heavily involved in everything at the farm at Ridgeville. From parts and supply runs to weed identification to making certain that everyone was looked after, Mom was a good organizer. She was also fit and could still do a cartwheel, which she did in the yard at the farm at 55.
She was a strong believer in the equal rights of women, this was part of Mom's character and one we respected, as she was raised with three brothers and then had three sons.
Mom's knowledge and memory of family history, events, people and rural areas they originated from was something she truly enjoyed sharing and reminiscing about. She was our family historian. Mom was also a participant in a number of organizations. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Queen Winnipeg Chapter No 1. for 63 years, belonged to the Chatelaine Toastmistress group and then Portia Communications. She attended the International Training in Communications world meeting in Japan when she was 80, she took part and enjoyed learning, she was a good public speaker. Mom will be also remembered for her sense of humour, she generally had a joke or wanted to hear a joke of which was followed with much laughter. Her hosting abilities for New Years Day parties for the Cooks and the following weekend for the Smiths were great family and friends events, with a lot of fun, food, and merriment. It brought a lot of people together. Mom in particular enjoyed her 100th birthday, which as usual, was hot sunshine and what a great day to celebrate a great Mom!
A Celebration of Life will be held in 2021.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 03, 2020