Doris E. Cook, 95, of Michigan City, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home on February 23, 2024. Doris was born at home to Richard F. and M. Elizabeth (McConnell) Cobb on July 29, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through the Great Depression she watched her father do odd jobs, scavenge coal from abandoned mines to heat the house, and tend a garden for food. She saw her older brother go off to World War II to march through Europe into the Battle of the Bulge and make it home. After graduating from Taylor Allderdice High School, Doris began a wartime correspondence with a Navy submariner from Iowa, Richard W. Cook. Their friendship grew into a lifelong love, and they were married on March 5, 1949. They shared 66 happy years together.
Doris began married life in Valparaiso, Indiana, while her husband Richard attended Valparaiso Tech. Over the years, they made their home in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New Jersey. She was adventurous, encouraging Richard to take a yearlong university contract in Iran with their five children, traveling the world and experiencing other cultures. She homeschooled the children while in Iran, resulting in better grades when they returned. It was that year that Doris looked back on as a rich and bonding family time. Doris was an accomplished cook, seamstress, and quilter, freely sharing her skills as an enthusiastic mentor. She was a gifted soprano and choir member. She taught Sunday School, led church women’s groups and, together with her husband, built Sound Word, a Christian media company. In her later years she crafted greeting cards and her famous “zipper purses” which she handed out to all she met: waiters, stylists, grocery clerks, garbage workers. She never failed to elicit a hug and a heartfelt “Thank you!” In her own words, that always “filled her Love Bucket!” We praise the Lord whom she loved and served, that her Love Bucket is full and overflowing, now and forever.
Doris is survived by her children, Linda (Jay) Courtney of Valparaiso, Indiana, Donald (Susan Gollehon) Cook of Chesterton, Indiana, Janet (Lee) Zoellner of Menomonie, Wisconsin, David Cook of Michigan City, Indiana, and Susan (Christopher) Kniola of Carmel, Indiana; 10 grandchildren, Matthew (Sarah), Alan (Calli), Alex, Charles (fiancé, Makoto), Melinda (Jonathan), Elizabeth (Calvin), Michael (Abbie), Nicholas (Nichole), Laura, and Mason; and 11 great-grandchildren, Ben, Evan, Micah, Palmer, Arya, Ivan, Avett, Xavier, Delaney, Savannah, and Christy. In addition to her husband Richard, she was preceded in death by her sister Mary Agnes Colbert, brother Richard F. Cobb, Jr.; and great-grandson John.
Visitation will be at Calvary Church Chapel, 1325 Evans Ave., Valparaiso, Indiana 46383, on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. A Memorial Service will follow immediately at the church with Pastor Paul Allen officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Angelcrest Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International (www.gideons.org) or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org).
GUESTBOOK
Dear Family, Sending you my sincere sympathy in the passing of your dear mother and grandmother. Doris and Dick were friends of my parents Thomas and Mary Lou Sparks through Evergreen and Gideons. I know they spent many years enjoying each others company. May you have peace with your mother's passing as you reflect on her beautiful life and honor to our Lord. -Sharon Sparks Harris
