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Obituary ~ Myrtle Lena Cook, 1947 - 2009
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Myrtle L. (McCallum) Cook passed away peacefully with family by her side at the Grey Nuns Hospital Nov. 20, 2009.
She was born July 7, 1947, the fifth of eight children born to George and Millicent McCallum in Ocre River, Man. The family moved to Macinack, Man., then to Melville, Sask.
Myrtle married Hugh Cook in 1965. Hugh and Myrtle then moved to Williams Lake, B.C., where they raised their three sons: Jim, Vern and Keith. They relocated to the farm west of High Prairie in 1974.
Myrtle worked for Mr. Gould making wedges for a mine in Grand Cache, as a matron for the RCMP, as an Edmonton Journal courier, and in the lumber industry before going to work first at the High Prairie Hospital, then the J.B. Wood Nursing Home.
In May 1988 she completed her Personal Care certificate. She continued to take courses relevant to her work, in order to keep herself current until she resigned in 2000. She then opened her country care home which she ran until her death.
Myrtle also provided foot care in her home to her residents and to other elders. In addition to her care home, she and her son Vern established a new business under the name of Wapiti Pawn.
Myrtle was a determined, caring and a dedicated volunteer involved with many organizations such as the Royal Purple, the High Prairie Friendship Centre, the High Prairie Community Health Care Council and the Pioneer Thresherman’s Association.
Myrtle faced a lot of challenges in her life: the loss of her home to fire, the breakup of her marriage and becoming a single mother responsible for three growing boys. As well as raising her boys, she took on the responsibility of raising three grandchildren rather than see them go into foster care. Family was everything to Myrtle. Her greatest challenge, one she could not overcome by sheer will power, was to be her health.
Myrtle is survived by her sons: Jim, Vern (Michelle) and Keith (Joanne); her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Crystal (Ken), Collin, Kyle, Conner, Carter, Shelby, Angela (Adrian), Grant (Nicole), Stacy (Colin), Amber (Travis), Josh, Sierra, Alisha, Kaleb and Ethan; her sisters, Margaret, Alma, Martha, Louise and her brother, Andy; as well as many other relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by: her father George; mother Millicent; sisters Gladys and Jean; and a half-brother, Harry Cull.
A memorial service was held Nov. 26, 2009, at the Triangle Hall with Pastor Steven Grande officiating.
If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetic Association as an expression of sympathy.
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