Margaret Louise Cook

Margaret Louise (Blevins) Cook

October 9, 1928 – July 4, 2020

Margaret Louise (Blevins) Cook, the daughter of Charles Kessler and Alice Leota (McVay) Blevins, was born on October 9, 1928 in Wichita, Kansas.  She was one of five children born to this union, two sons and three daughters, John, Kenneth, Margaret, June and Judy. Margaret attended school in Wichita including North High School and she attended some college at Central College in McPherson, Kansas.

Margaret Louise Blevins was united in marriage to Garland Lorraine Ballard on May 17, 1948 in Wichita, Kansas and they established their first home together in Hillsboro, Kansas. This union was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters.  William Leo, Garrie Lorraine, Margaret Louise, George Leonard and Kenneth Lynn. Garland and Margaret were divorced in 1963 and Garland died in 1993. Margaret raised her children in Hillsboro, Kansas and was active in American Legion Auxiliary, Business Woman Association and received the Business Woman of the Year Award.

Margaret married Mr. Clarence Edward Cook in 1972 and they moved to Marion, Kansas in 1973 where they stayed until they chose to move to Texas and open a bakery with his brother and wife.  They resided in Carthage, Texas for three years and moved back to Kansas living in Emporia.  Mr. Cook, or C.E. as he was known passed away in 2004.

Margaret worked for several businesses in Wichita while young including Nu-way on Douglas Street, Mid-Co Photo Processing plant, and Ben Franklin stores in various locations.  She worked as a bookkeeper for Ballard’s plumbing store in Hillsboro and worked for Dr. Henry Loewen, DDS., as an office manager and hygienist for many years.  In Texas she worked in the bakery along with her husband and finally at a Drug Store in Emporia until retirement.

In 1959, Margaret loss her son Kenneth at the age of three days to heart problems.  In 2005 George passed away from complication of flu and heart problems and in 2017, William passed away from lung disease.

Margaret enjoyed, camping, fishing, reading, crafts, baking and cooking for her family.  Later in life she enjoyed traveling and attending special events with William at his church and the local college theater.

Margaret L. Cook age 91, of Marion, Kansas passed away at St Luke’s’ Living Center on July 4, 2020 while in the company of her family and friends.  Margaret will be welcomed to heaven by those who preceded her in death; her parents, Charles and Leota Blevins; her husband C.E. Cook; her brothers John and Kenneth Blevins; and her three sons, William, George and Kenneth Ballard.

She is survived by her two daughters Garrie Stang of Humboldt, Kansas and Margaret (Robert) Nichols, of Marion, Kansas.  She has seven grandchildren, Michael Klassen, Jeffrey (Kendra) Klassen, Gary Ballard, Scott (Ashley) Ballard, Ginger (Mike) James, Samuel Graumann, and Holly (Jeffery) Higgins.

She is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Tempest, McKenna, Annalyn, Collin, McKinlee, Elizabeth (Ellie) and Sophie along with two step great grandchildren Raiden and Robert.  Many nieces and nephews.

Margaret had four step children Robert Cook, Eddy Cook, Shirley Neiko, and Suzanne Cook, along with many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

A memorial will be planned at a later date.  The final resting place will be beside C.E. Cook, and her sons William and George in Scared Heart Cemetery, Emporia, Kansas.

Memorials suggestions are for St. Luke’s Living Center in care of Roberts Blue Barnett, 605 State Street, Emporia, Kansas, 66801.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website; www.robertsblue.com