Viola Cook

COOK,Viola Bernice (Nelson) Viola Bernice (Nelson) Cook was born on January 9, 1920 in Omaha Nebraska, the fourth daughter of Nels and Marie Nelson. Vi died peacefully in her home on January 7, 2011, two days before her 91st birthday. Vi was preceded in death by her beloved husband Thomas Joseph Cook, her cherished great granddaughter Sarah Louise Mills, her loving niece Beverly Jean Rick, her nephew Ross Edward Carpenter and her sisters Gladys, Elgin, and Genevieve. Vi is survived by her son Ron and daughter-in-law Judy; seven grandchildren: Carolyn Anne Cook Mills (Warren), Gregory Thomas Cook, Kevin Patrick Cook (Lisa), Jeffery Phillip Cook (Shelley), Daniel Ross Cook (Kelly), Elizabeth Cook Colombini (BJ) and Matthew Joseph Cook (Danielle); and twenty great grandchildren: Andrew, James, Reilly, Natalie, Brittney, Ryan, Spencer, Keegan, Jessica, Skyler, Phoebe, Elaine, Julia, Hannah, Evan, Flynn, Ronan, Ella, Mia and Morgan. Vi and her family moved to South San Francisco from Omaha at a very young age and soon thereafter to the San Francisco Glen Park district on Laidley Street. It was there that she met the love of her life Thomas Joseph Cook who lived "down the hill" on Chenery Street. They went "steady" when she was thirteen and he was eighteen. Later Vi was one of the first graduating classes of the new Balboa High School in 1938. She and Tom married on January 20, 1940 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in San Francisco and were happily married for fifty four years until his death. She was actively involved in Scouting as a Den Mother for Pack #41. Tom and Vi made many friends from scouting and the Sunset neighborhood in San Francisco and continued many of those same friendships after moving to their summer home in Guerneville. After Tom's retirement, they fostered new and lasting friendships with a recreation vehicle travelling group and with the Northwood Golf Club. After Tom's passing, she made new friends with the Russian River Senior Center in Guerneville. She was an expert gardener, and an avid golfer - making a hole in one in her seventies! She was also a devoted and enthusiastic bird watcher, a shrewd and knowledgeable stock market investor, an excellent Bridge player and a breast cancer survivor for fifty three years. She lived alone for over fifteen years, active with her friends until the end and served as an inspiration for the young people in her neighborhood. Vi was a walking encyclopedia about the history of the Russian River and the Drakes Beach neighborhood. Donations in her memory can be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure or to Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Guerneville.