Wanda Mae Cook

Wanda Mae Cook was born to Blanche Clump Long and Lloyd Lones Long on a farm near Manchester, Oklahoma on May 1, 1929, and passed on at age 95 on April 8, 2025, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
When Wanda was young, her family took a leap of faith and moved to Garber, Oklahoma to start a John Deere Implement business. Raised by loving, servant-hearted parents, she grew up there learning about Christ's love. Her upbringing compelled her to seek connection with those often forgotten by others. At the age of ten she began visiting shut-ins in her community, showing compassion and care to those who needed it most. She sought to support those serving in World War II by volunteering to roll special bandages for the Red Cross, putting her gratitude into action. As a teenager, Wanda taught Sunday school to pre-school children, sang in the choir, attended Sunday MYF where she frequently presented the programs, and attended youth camps and acted in plays.
In 1947 she graduated from Garber High School and soon made Oklahoma A&M (OSU) her new home. An unexpected blind date with a fellow student would change the trajectory of her life. Meeting Paul Duane Cook was love at first sight. They married on December 18, 1949, and their love for one another continued to grow and strengthen throughout 75 years of marriage. From this union, God blessed them with four children and her top priority was to raise them to know the love of Jesus. In addition to being a loving, caring parent, Wanda was a talented seamstress who found immense joy creating beautiful garments and mending clothing for her family.
Throughout her life, Wanda continued to share her faith in Jesus by teaching pre-K through adult Sunday School classes, participating in Prayer Groups, attending weekly Women's Bible Study class, and having daily prayer time devoted to joys and concerns. Wanda was also an avid reader of the Bible, religious books, devotionals, and she also found herself drawn to WWII history and autobiographies. All of this intensified a deeper compassion and empathy by learning about others. Preparing lessons and teaching others about the peace, grace, and love of Jesus also helped to strengthen her deeply rooted faith. Wanda stated that all these practices gave her the "peace that passeth all understanding" throughout her lifetime.
At the age of fifty, Wanda acted on her life-long dream and went back to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. She found great joy and purpose tending to the needs of her patients at Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville for ten years. It was always Wanda's nature to show love to all and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren never doubted how precious they were to her by her actions and words. Some of her most meaningful, joy-filled moments took place at the Lake Cabin in Eufaula, Oklahoma, which she and Duane loved sharing with their family.
Wanda's faith in an ever-loving God was constant. Through every hardship and joy, she knew God heard her prayers of requests and thankfulness. She found peace knowing that she would join her loved ones and spend eternity alongside her blessed Redeemer.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Paul Duane Cook, and brother Ed Long. Wanda will be missed by her brother Hal Long, sister Elizabeth Palmer, and her four children and their spouses Bruce & Liz, Dennis & Sarah, Linda & Tim, Laura & Mark, and grandchildren Amber, Byron, Jesse, Bryan, Michelle, Claire, Kelsey, and great grands Asher, Paisley, Scarlett, Charlie, Ripley, Benjamin, Meadow, Stevie, Sydney, Alexander, and numerous relatives and friends.
We give special thanks to The Journey Home for providing comfort and peace. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to East Cross Church in memory of Wanda Cook.