Charlene Cook
Charlene Cook passed away peacefully at home April 27, 2014 with her son Sandy and longtime friend and caregiver Marian Olsen bedside. Charlene was born May 19, 1930 in Odessa, Texas to Jamie Charles and Attie Key Sanders. She had two prominent figures in American history in her family, her great great great grandfather was Francis Scott Key author of the Star Spangled Banner and cousin Bonnie Parker of the notorious Bonnie and Clyde fame.
Growing up as a young girl the family moved to the key family farm in Keys, California where she helped her family get by and make ends meet working picking fruits and vegetables in the fields and later working in the processing plants. She graduated from Hilmar High School in 1947 and continued her education at Modesto JR College and graduating from Sacramento State College in 1952. It was during this time she met a soldier, James Cook on leave from the V. A. Hospital at a local dance. Charlene and Jim were married September 3, 1950. After graduating Sac State she started her teaching career at the Mount Diablo School District. Charlene and Jim helped raise numerous foster children at their Concord, California home. Summer vacations were spent with Uncle Red and Aunt Charly at their cabin on Donner Lake, water-skiing, fishing and the weekly trip to Reno, Nevada. Charlene and Jim adopted their only child, son Boyd (Sandy) on October 14, 1961.
Charlene and Jim moved to Susanville in 1963 where she started teaching for the Susanville School District and Jim transferred to the Post Office. Charlene taught at Roosevelt, McKinley and Diamond View Schools. While teaching she went back to school and received a degree in Educational Administration and she became Susanville School Districts, District Librarian in 1980. She was instrumental in getting the first computers to be used in the Susanville School District. Charlene retired in 1986 with 34 years in the education system. Everyone who knew Charlene knew that she was horse crazy and her retirement gave her time to do what she had always wanted to, ride cutting horse. From 1987 to 2004, she lived her dream.
Charlene’s husband Jim passed away from cancer in January 1990. She still continued to ride her cutting horses, winning numerous cutting competitions, belt buckles and Hi Point year end awards in the NCHA. She religiously rode her horse or two every day, wind, rain, snow or shine till she was 81 years old. Many and most people knew her as the waving horse lady on Johnstonville Rd.
Charlene was an exceptional seamstress, she was always making, repairing or designing something. Another passion of hers was painting with both oils and watercolors. She was definitely one of a kind and not afraid to say what she was thinking, to those who knew her well also knew that she had a heart as big as Texas. She truly will be missed.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Harvey Mesarole and husband James JR. She is survived by her son Boyd (Sandy) Cook and his wife Christy.
As per her wishes there will be no services with a private family burial at Diamond Crest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers she requested that donations be made in her name to:
American Quarter Horse Association Youth Scholarship Fund
American Quarter Horse Foundation
PO Box 32111
Amarillo Texas 79120 or
[email protected]
Your gift is fully tax deductible
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