Kate Cook

Kate Wilson Cook, age 94, died 09/21/2025. Born Emma Kate Wilson (September 16, 1931), first daughter and second child of Lewis Summers Wilson and Ruth (Shore) Wilson, married 1926. Kate adored her loving parents and had a childhood that she cherished in the small town of Meadowview, VA. She spoke of her early life with the greatest warmth and affection, including her Aunt Stella Wilson who loved and nurtured her. Kate and her sister Roma were the closest and dearest of friends until Roma's early death in 1998.

Kate graduated from Meadowview High School in 1949, and attended Johnston Memorial Hospital Nursing School, Abingdon, VA. From 1951-53, she was the office nurse for Dr. John Marcy in Bristol, VA-TN. This was one of the happiest periods of Kate's life. Periodically, beginning in the early 1970s, and fulltime from 1982 until her retirement in 1994, Kate was a floor manager on various medical units at Nashville Memorial Hospital, a career that brought her great satisfaction.

Kate leaves son Michael Rutter; son Joey Rutter passed away 2022; daughter-in-law Sherri (Coleman) Rutter; son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Anne (Lorrig) Rutter, and grandchildren Briana, Matthew, and Andrew Rutter; husband Jerry Cook passed away 2023. Kate is survived by one sister, Doris Musick, Abingdon, VA, and several nieces and nephews.

Kate was foremost a mother and grandmother (Grankate), the roles that she cherished most and which brought her great fulfillment and meaning. Kate was a hardworking homemaker, always striving to keep her home well-cared-for, inside and out. Like her own mother, she was always busy, always involved in a project. Kate was a dedicated and competent professional, respected and admired by her co-workers.

In all things, Kate held herself to high standards. She was a wonderful writer, creating poetry, vignettes of her life, short stories, letter-writing, and heartfelt written messages to those she loved and cared about. Kate was a lover of the arts, and music of many types was an important part of her life. She was an avid reader. Kate prided herself on her wonderful cooking, which was an important way in which she shared and expressed her love for others.

Throughout her life, Kate treated all people as she would like to have been treated. She is a sweet spirit and a loving soul.

Visitation will be held at Hendersonville Memory Gardens September 27, 2025 from 6-8 pm and September 28, 2025 from 1-2 pm, and a Celebration of Life service September 28, 2025 at 2 pm. Arrangements by Hendersonville Memory Gardens, 353 E. Main St., Hendersonville, 615-824-3855