Mary Elouise Cook, 78, Shawnee, Kansas, passed away Saturday, January 5, 2019, at her home.

Mary was born February 14, 1940, in Orient, Adair County, Iowa, to Roy and Frances Krabiel. She was a 1957 graduate of Orient High School and attended Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, majoring in music. On August 9, 1959, Mary married Larry Cook in Orient, Iowa.

Mary's life was devoted to making music. Her first church organist job was at the age of 11 at the Orient United Methodist Church. She was the organist at various churches and retired after 30 years at Leawood Baptist Church. One of her highlights was playing the pipe organ at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as part of a choir tour throughout Europe. Mary was also the choral music accompanist for Shawnee Mission Northwest High School for 26 years.

Mary and Larry have lived in Creston, Iowa, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Ankeny, Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa and most recently resided in Shawnee, Kansas. She spent her winters in Palm Springs, California.

Mary is survived by her husband, Larry Cook; two sons, Tony (Tina) Cook, Wichita, Kansas, and Jeff (Kim) Cook, Shawnee, Kansas; sister, Dorothy (Jerry) Straks, Meadow Vista, California; grandchildren, Kaleb Gilmore, Michael Vielhauer, Michaela Evans and Kaitlyn Evans; niece, Sarah Straks; and nephew, Mark (Becky) Straks.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life will include a visitation at 9:30-11:00 a.m. with a service at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Leawood Baptist Church, 8200 State Line Road, Leawood, Kansas.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Johnson County Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), 6315 W. 110th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66211.  Mary had a servant's heart and was a strong supporter of IHN.