Lula Mae Cook

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Lula Mae Cook, aged 90 years old, of Evanston (formerly of Quartz Hill, California), passed away peacefully on March 6 at Evanston Regional Hospital. She was at the center of our family and is forever in our hearts. 

Lula was born Sept. 26, 1926, in Burke, South Dakota, where she attended school and graduated from high school. She continued her education at Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota, and aspired to be a teacher. 

Lula met a sailor named Robert Cook on a trip to California; they were married Feb. 4, 1950. They were married for 45 years and had two daughters. Their younger daughter, Janice, had a congenital heart defect and passed away in November 1966. 

Lula loved solving the puzzles of income tax and worked in that field for decades. She started at H&R Block but later became an enrolled agent and opened her own income tax business. She ran her own business until the late 1990s when she eased out of business. 

She was very active with the Presbyterian Church until health issues forced her to stay home. She sang in the choir, was the director of Vacation Bible School and was active with Presbyterian Women and Church Women United. 

Lula loved music and frequently took her portable electric organ to accompany singing at conferences and church services in remote locations. She also enjoyed playing bingo, both in California and here in Evanston at the Catholic church. She also was involved with the Peck Mine in Prescott, Arizona. She collected stamps, coins and glass and ceramic “Cinderella-type” shoes. She was also interested in photography and moviemaking. 

Lula is survived by her older daughter, Vivian Bowden (Mike) of Evanston, and her  younger brother, John Kallander (Barbara) of Antioch, California. She is also survived by grandchildren Duane (Melissa) Bowden of Evanston, Christina (Jason) Doran) of Smithfield, Pennsylvania, and Patrick (Elizabeth) Bowden of Los Alamos, New Mexico. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

In addition to her husband and daughter, Lula was preceded in death by her parents, John “Art” and Elva Kallander; her older sister, Dora Kenyon; and her youngest brother, Charles Kallender. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity or to your church. 

The family of Lula Cook wishes to thank Best Home Health and Hospice, Bee Hive Homes and Rocky Mountain Care, all located in Evanston, for their compassionate care for Lula during her final months. God bless you all. 

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 12, at Crandall Funeral Home at 800 Uinta Street in Evanston. Sara J. Shields, chaplain for Best Home Health and Hospice, will officiate. Lula was cremated and will be interred privately at Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach, California.