July 19, 1945 ~ June 29, 2021
Pat was born and raised in San Diego, California. She graduated high school at the age of 15 and moved to New York City to pursue a career as a ballerina. This career was cut short because of health issues. She started college and got a degree in biochemistry. Following in the family history of teachers, Pat took education classes and earned a Master’s Degree in education curriculum, all while being a single mom of two girls. She taught in the San Diego area while raising and providing for her family. When her daughters left the nest, she continued her education, taking a class at the Colorado School of Mines where she met a teacher from Meeker. On a trip to Meeker she found a teaching vacancy. She went for an interview. The school board’s main concern was if she owned a winter coat. She left the interview with a set of keys to the school. She met Stan Cook on that trip. She became a member of his family and his best friend. She taught hundreds of students through the years. When asked “What did she teach?” the more appropriate question should have been “What didn’t she teach?” During her career she was always taking more classes to broaden her knowledge. She even took online classes after she retired. When not teaching she enjoyed reading, learning to ski, and camping. Spring was a time for camping in the desert and exploring the canyon country for pictographs and petroglyphs. Summertime brought camping in the high country around Meeker and fresh trout for supper. In the fall she enjoyed following the local sports team (especially volleyball), and often camping at away games. Christmas time was a time to visit family in California and a last camp trip for the season.
She leaves behind a brother, her husband Stan, daughters Alita and Eileen, three grandkids, two great-grandkids, numerous in-laws and outlaws, and nephews and nieces.
A service will be held 10:30 a.m. Aug. 14, 2021 at the Meeker United Methodist Church.
