E. Irene Cook was born in Chehalis, Washington, Dec. 18, 1922, to ” Pete” and Effie Elmgren. She passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 1, 2023, at the age of 100 years and seven months. In her youth, she attended Newaukum Valley Schoolhouse Elementary and Chehalis High School. She later attended Good Samaritan Nurses Training School in Portland. She married Frank Robert Cook Jan. 31, 1944. She became a mother and homemaker, enjoying sewing for her young daughters and gardening and growing beautiful flowers with her young son while managing their small farm. She spent many years working alongside Frank at their family-owned True Value Hardware Store in Winlock. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 63 years, Frank; her brothers; Ben and John Elmgren; her sister, Trudy Hunt; and her two grandsons, Matthew Hall and infant Timothy Hall. She is survived by her three children, Linda Johnsen, Nancy (Mike) Hall and Glen Cook; two grandchildren, Debbie (Derek) Keith and Charles Tyson; two great-grandchildren, Dennis and Dawson Keith; and several nieces and nephews.
Irene requested that there be no service. Interment will be at Claquato Cemetery. The funeral is under the directive of Cattermole Funeral Home, a viewing will take place August 17th in the afternoon.
