Willa Louise Cook

Willa Louise Cook, 89, of DeLeon Springs, FL, passed away on April 21, 2017. She was born in Oregon City, Oregon and moved to Florida in 1959. She is preceded in death by her daughters; Lisa Marie and Wendy Louise Cook, stepson; Howard P. Cook, and her parents; Wally and Mabel Worthington. She is survived by her children; Larry Cook of DeLand, FL, Mickey Barker (Jim) of Georgia; stepson; Michael Cook (Star) of DeLeon Springs, FL, one grandson; Adam Colvin, two step-grandchildren; Michael Cook, Jr., and Channing Gerber (Andrew), two step great-grandchildren; Colton and Duke Gerber and one sister; Jo Ann Worthington. Willa was a three-time World Champion water skier and eight-time National Champion water skier and is listed in the Guinness's Book of World Records for skiing, and those records still stand today. She was inducted into The Water Skiing Hall of Fame and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. She was also the star of the water skiing show at Cypress Gardens for 10 years. Willa was also a very accomplished portrait painter, photographer, and stained glass design artist and studied stained glass design art under Ludwig Schaffrath. Some of Willa's portrait works are displayed in the USA Water Ski Hall of Fame and also in many homes across the United States. Willa also authored and photographed two cookbooks: "Salads and Sweets" and "OnePot". Truly, anything she touched was true perfection. Alongside her husband, Robert "Bob" Cook, she was the co-founder of the Holiday House Restaurant, in 1959, in DeLand, Florida. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, beginning at 11:30am with Funeral Services following at 12:00pm at First Assembly, 551 S. Kepler Road, Deland, FL with Reverend Mike Modica Officiating.