BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Mary Helen Cook, 93, of Beaver Dam, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. She was born Dec. 25, 1925, in Salina, Kansas, to the late Hubert and Louise Jefferson Sanders.
Mary was a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Beaver Dam. She graduated from nursing school at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Louisville.
One of her proudest achievements was receiving a Bachelor’s of Arts degree at Brescia University while working full time and raising a family.
Mary worked as the director of nursing at Ohio County Hospital, Director of Nursing at Lakeview Nursing Home in Morgantown and she was a school nurse at Owensboro Treatment Center.
“Ma” whom her grandchildren and great-grandchildren affectionately called her, loved her family, her cats and keeping up with U.S. politics. She was fiercely generous and was always putting others before herself.
Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Judge Carmol D. Cook; one brother, Hubert J. Sanders; and her son-in-law, Dr. Anwar Quader.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her daughter, Mary “Brucie” Quader, of Owensboro, Kentucky, and two grandchildren, Natalie (Jonathan) Skillman, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Tarik Quader, of Los Angeles, California. Mary was blessed with two great-grandchildren, Speer Skillman and Stella Skillman, both of Indianapolis, Indiana, and is also survived by her loving nephew, “Sonny” Cook and wife, Mary Lou Cook.
The family extends their appreciation to her beloved caregiver Brenda White, who also was a dear friend to her and her family. The family would also like to thank Mary Lou Cook, Diane Connell, Tory and Mike Singleton, and Timothy Embry for their compassionate service.
Private family services will be held at Rosehill-Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum on Monday, Oct. 28, with Father Pat Connell officiating. Friends may visit with Mary’s family from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Monday at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contribution to Friends of the Ohio County Animal Shelter, Inc. Donations can be made at www.fots-rescue.weebly.com or mail to: FOTS, P.O.Box 7, Hartford, KY 42347. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence may be left for the family of Mary Helen Cook by visiting her memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.