Betty Lou Cook

Betty Lou was born on August 19, 1942 in Stanfield, Oregon to Vernon and Odelpha Hoskins Waterman. She was the middle child with an older sister, Mary Jean Morgan, and younger brother, Jim Waterman. She passed peacefully early on Sunday, December 8, 2024 with two of her granddaughters holding her hands.

Growing up she lived in the Stanfield, Oregon area as well as in Washington State, Northern California, and Lodi while her dad was a high school teacher.  She had special relationships with her siblings and Oregon cousins, Charlene, Cathy, Chris, Charlie, Ruth, Kay, and Dona.

Her father attended optometry school, and the family settled in Manteca, California where Betty graduated high school in 1960.  She attended Modesto Junior College and then Fresno State where she graduated with her degree in Elementary Education.  She later completed a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Boise State University.

It was at Fresno State University when a handsome Dairy Science major named Will Cook caught her eye. She and Will were married on June 20,1964 in Manteca, California.  They returned to the Fresno area for Will to finish his college education and then had moves to North/Central California, Oregon, and Idaho while welcoming three children, Tamma, Debbie, and Willy. They settled in Emmett, Idaho in 1981 and set about the good work of raising their family including getting involved at the Emmett Church of the Nazarene, schools, and the local 4-H clubs.

Betty substitute taught while her children were young and returned to full time teaching, first with seventh/eighth grade at Sweet-Montour School. She then taught kindergarten for over twenty years in Emmett at Brick Elementary and Shadow Butte Elementary. She was the perfect mix of personality for a kindergarten teacher, a little sweet and a lot sassy.

She was a faithful member of the Emmett Church of the Nazarene. She loved to sing and perform in the choir. One of her very favorite events was the Emmett Community Multi-Church Christmas Musical which she sang in for over twenty years. She enjoyed Bible Studies and volunteering at the Guest House for the Church. She loved working with the ladies at the Guest House where they would work hard and talk lots. She was quite social and could strike up a conversation with anyone.

She loved to go camping. She loved Jesus, her family, and special friends, Peggy Kilgore and Jackie Webb.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, and her daughter, Debbie, who she missed dearly. She is survived by her loving husband of SIXTY years, Will Cook; children, Tamma (Brad) Clark and William (Gail) Cook; seven special grandchildren, Christopher Morris, Danielle (Tyler) Simmons, Seth (Savanah) Clark, Kyle Clark, Carolyn Cook, Caitlyn Cook, and Claira Cook; and seven great-grandchildren, Kaidence, Dustin, and Odessa Simmons, Audrey and Abel Morris, and Tazmyn and Adley Clark. She was loved by several nieces and nephews. She will be missed and we rest in the comfort that we will be together one day in Glory.

Funeral services to celebrate Betty will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the Emmett Church of the Nazarene at 11:00 AM with lunch and fellowship to follow. The services will be live streamed through the Emmett Church of the Nazarene website at Emmettnaz.org.

Arrangements are under the care of the Potter Funeral Chapel.

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