Mary H. Cook

Mary Hendrix Cook, a long-time resident of Pocatello, passed away June 10, 2024, at Caring Hearts Senior Center. She was 95. Mary was born January 8, 1929, to Edmund Allen and Marguerite Whitehead Hendrix and spent her childhood in Lund, NV. The family moved to Murray, UT, as Mary started high school. After graduation, she learned teletype and worked for Western Union in Los Angeles. She also worked at Garretts in Pocatello.

She married Junior Allen Cook May 29, 1948 in Pocatello and in 1964 the family was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. Junior and Mary purchased property, built a home, lived and raised their family in Pocatello. Mary was a stay-at-home Mom and a great influence in the lives of her children, but also in the lives of their friends, other neighbors, and extended family. She often would say about her children, “Junior taught them how to work, but I taught them how to have fun!”

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and actively and prayerfully practiced her faith. She taught sportsmanship and fairness, but also the satisfaction of winning. She readily joined her children in a game of “work up,” and was the star batter--she swung at everything and rarely missed. She couldn’t resist spraying water out the back kitchen window when someone was standing on the stairs. Once when a kid had started a water fight, she picked up the outside water hose and chased him through the house. She was the epitome of self-reliance as she woke children up extra early to gather at the kitchen table before school during harvest to can peaches, pears, apricots, rhubarb, and anything else available. She was a musician at heart and played the piano, the clarinet, and accordion (often by ear), and invited all to join in and sing along. She instilled a love of learning as she faithfully read and studied the scriptures, church lessons, and discussed with children what they were learning in school.

She enjoyed helping others and taught her children the value of service by her example. Eight of her children served full-time missions for the Church and she wrote/typed them letters every week. She and Junior were chosen as a Family of the Year in 1984, and both were somewhat uncomfortable with the honor. If you asked Mary what her greatest accomplishment was, she would smirk and happily tell you that none of her children had spent a night in jail. She was an avid gardener and always shared the bounty of her efforts with others.

After Junior’s death in 1998 Mary remained in Pocatello for another 12 years before moving to Garland, UT, to live with daughter Danna and son-in-law Don Koyle. She became part of that family, and the Koyle home became the Cook gathering place for the next 10 years. Her love of God, life and others has greatly blessed her posterity and many others, and we have been privileged to call her Mom, Grandma Cookie, Aunt Mary, and Friend.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Junior, parents, older siblings (Shirl, Blanche and Norman), and a great-grandson Tean. She is survived by six sons: Les (Janey), Darryl (Mary), Randy (Joanne), Ed, Lyndon (Debbie), and Corwin (Marilyn) and four daughters: Jaylyne (Craig) Reynolds, Karleen (Ken) Kiffer, Danna (Don) Koyle, and Lorinda (Jay) Jones; brother Hazen, 52 grandchildren, 155 great-grandchildren (and one due in July) and 4 great-great-grandchildren, a couple of cousins and many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 from 7 – 8:30 pm at Colonial Chapel, 2005 S. 4th Ave. Pocatello, ID. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 11:00 am at the LDS church, 655 S. Grant Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho, with a viewing for one hour prior.

Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho.

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