Charlotte Cook

Services for Charlotte Cook, 91, of Abernathy, Texas, formerly of Spokane, Washington, will be held Monday, August 31, 2026 at 10:00am in the Abernathy Church of Christ with Randall Carr and Jared Randall officiating. Viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:00am to 10:00am. A private family burial will follow at a later date at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington. Funeral services are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, Texas.

Mrs. Cook passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 surrounded by family in Lubbock, Texas.

The youngest of five children, Charlotte was born to James and Mabel (McKirgan) Berry on July 10, 1935, in New Virginia, Iowa. She married Wayne Cook in 1952, and as a military wife, Charlotte made a home for her family wherever Wayne’s military service took them, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, and Washington.

When Wayne’s military career brought their family to Washington, Charlotte began her career as a Food Service Manager for Medical Lake ISD in Medical Lake, just outside of Spokane. Charlotte and Wayne ultimately put down roots and made their home in Spokane.

Charlotte was always ready for whatever adventure Wayne wanted to take on next. Together, they rode motorcycles across the country, each earned their pilot’s licenses and flew small Cessnas throughout the United States—including to Alaska, where they met Russian pilots on the Bering Strait, near Nome, Alaska. They went deep-sea fishing, spending approximately six weeks many summers “living” on the Pacific Ocean while fishing for salmon and halibut. They skied and snowmobiled with friends and even played accordions together to entertain friends and family.

Following Wayne’s retirement, Charlotte worked during the week—and they played on the weekends.

Her faith was deeply important to her, and combining her faith with fun was simply who Charlotte was at heart. Charlotte and Wayne taught the college-age young adults at Northside Church of Christ in Spokane for many years, and their home was often filled with those same young people for Bible class game nights. From couples’ parties at church to gathering friends and family around their table, Charlotte and Wayne were always up for a good time. Their stories of the hardships they faced as a young couple became an encouragement to many young married couples over the years. They later worshipped with the Colbert Church of Christ.

And while Wayne’s good time ended promptly at 9:00 p.m. each night, Charlotte was likely to stay up playing games and swapping stories until the wee hours of the morning. Of course, anyone who played those games knew that the “house rules” were often conveniently written to benefit her!

Following Wayne’s death in 2010, Charlotte continued working until she retired in 2013. She then moved to Abernathy to begin yet another adventure—this time closer to her family.

In Abernathy, Charlotte enjoyed being part of the lives and activities of her great- grandchildren while also making new friendships with the ladies at Abernathy Church of Christ and Abernathy Senior Citizens. She continued to live a full and active life, enjoying “nail days & lunch dates” with her granddaughter, Bible class, lunches with the ladies, and plenty of time with family and friends. She moved to Carillon Senior Living Center in 2022.

Dementia took her mind long before her body was ready to leave this life. Yet through it all, the spunky, take-charge woman Charlotte had always been was still there. As one Carillon aide recently said, “Who’s gonna keep us in line now, Mrs. Cook?”

Even to the end, although her mind had gone on ahead, Charlotte continued to entertain those around her with her good humor and unmistakable personality.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Cook; her son, Jim Cook; her daughter, Betty Williams; granddaughters Jennifer Williams, Lori Bufe, and Janella Hill; great-grandson Joseph Cook; sister Delores Aswegan; and brother Gerald “Bud” Berry.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Bufe and husband, Harold, of Abernathy; daughter-in-law, Cleta Cook of Lubbock; granddaughter, Cheri Liess and husband, Jake, of Abernathy; grandsons Ryan Bufe and wife, Ashley, of Sundown, Texas, Robert Cook and Rebecca England, of Venus, Florida and Jason Cook of Spokane; great- grandchildren Ethan Hill and wife Lyette, of Kenai, Alaska, Taelor Liess of Lubbock, Logan Hill of Clovis, New Mexico, Addison Liess of Lubbock, Brock, Ryder, Camden, and Beau Bufe all of Sundown, Destiny, Jazmyn, and Ian Cook of Venus; and great- great-granddaughter Piper Hill of Kenai; sister Phyllis Allen of Des Moines, Iowa; and brother Harold Berry and wife Mary Dee of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of Carillon Memory Care and UMC Hospice for the love, care, and attention they have given Charlotte and her family over the years.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC, 20090, Abernathy Church of Christ, 1512 Avenue M, Abernathy, TX 79311, https://www.abernathychurchofchrist.com/general-9 or a favorite charity.