Maxine Lea Cook

Maxine Cook, 86 year old Woodward resident, passed away Sunday November 19, 2023 in Woodward.
Maxine Lea (Nichols) Cook was born October 25, 1937 to Lotus A. Nichols and Laura B. (Thomas) Nichols at Meeker in Tyler County, West Virginia. Maxine was born at home and weighed only 3 pounds at birth. Her twin sister, Pauline Lou Nichols, died at birth.
Maxine graduated from Tyler County High School in Middlebourne, West Virginia with the class of 1955. Maxine was employed by Columbia Southern Chemical Corporation (PPG Industries, Inc.) at its New Martinsville, West Virginia location. Maxine rapidly progressed through Columbia Southern's Accounting Operations and Labor Relations Departments to the position of Secretary to the Director of Labor Relations and Personnel Director. While working at PPG she met and married Richard S. "Dick" Cook on June 4, 1960. To this union two sons, Gregory and Douglas, were born, which led to Maxine's retirement from the workforce allowing her to dedicate full time to being a wife, mother and homemaker. In later years after Maxine and Dick's family relocated to Woodward, Oklahoma, she returned to the workforce and worked for Barby Energy Corp., where she served as Secretary and Accountant for 16 years before retiring January 13, 1995.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Richard S. Cook, August 14, 2017; by her father, Lotus A. Nichols in May, 1991; her mother, Laura B. Nichols in April, 1992; two sisters, Pauline Lou Nichols in October, 1937 and Phyllis Marie Hanshaw in May, 1976; two brothers, Raymond Neal Nichols in June, 1997 and Ralph William Nichols in July, 2002.
Maxine will be sorely missed and remembered for her love and devotion to family; home cooking attributes; her dry sense of humor; compassion and sensitivity to everyone; and her love of the mental challenges of playing bridge with her many bridge friends.
Maxine is survived by her son, Dr. Gregory S. Cook and wife, Vickie, and their children, Josh Cook and Dr. Courtney Cook of Woodward, Oklahoma; her son, Dr. Douglas T. Cook and wife, Dr. Lisa Cook, and their children, Dr. Kayla Cook and Shelby Cook of Guthrie, Oklahoma. She is also survived by eight nieces and three nephews located in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.