Nancy Thomas Cook

Nancy Thomas Cook died on December 6th, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona after a short illness. She was born Nancy Anne Thomas in 1930 and grew up in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of Chattanooga and worked in elementary education and television before she was married to Richard (Dick) Cook. They were married for 67 years and never away from each other for more than a week or so, except for a hospitalization during the Covid isolation times.

A lifetime lover of music, theater, and poetry, Nancy was in the audience, backstage, and on-stage for many shows including the title role in a Fort Wayne, Indiana production of Driving Miss Daisy. She passed this talent and love along to all of her children and many grandchildren. Her other joys included, but were not limited to, travel, playing bridge and golf, and collecting Blenko glass. She was always ready for a new experience, a glimpse of beauty, a chance to enrich the lives of others, or an opportunity to learn something interesting. She has been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Wayne since 1974.

Later in life, she worked with inner-city young children, and, for the last few years before retirement, she was the Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Educational Foundation, managing scholarships and loans for students at Indiana and Purdue Universities. Retirement years were filled with travel, much of which involved visits with far-flung kids and grandkids. She always said that from childhood the only job she wanted was to be a mother, and her children have been grateful for what a loving and wonderful mother she was. She also had very strong relationships with all ten grandchildren, continuing into their adulthood.

Nancy is predeceased by her parents, William Carl and Ruth Patton Thomas, two sisters and two brothers, and aunt Mary (Mayme) Patton, all of Tennessee, and her daughter, Jennifer of Marshall, Michigan.

She is survived by her husband, Dick, children: Richard Cook (of Tucson) and Susan Draeger (of El Cerrito, California), and son-in-law, Jeff Wilson (of Marshall, Michigan), ten grandchildren and three great-granddaughters, many nieces and nephews in Tennessee, Alabama, Houston, Indianapolis, and beyond, and uncountable number of other family and friends.

A selection of photos can be seen here: Nancy's Photos.

Family and friends are encouraged to leave thoughts and memories in the Guest Book section of this website.

A memorial event will be planned in the future.