Alumni Obituary – Margaret Louise Cook

Margaret Louise (Blevins) Cook, the daughter of Charles Kessler and Alice Leota (McVay) Blevins, was born on October 9, 1928, in Wichita, Kansas.  She was one of five children born to this union, two sons and three daughters, John, Kenneth, Margaret, June, and Judy. Margaret attended school in Wichita including North High School and she attended some college at Central College in McPherson, Kansas.

Margaret Louise Blevins was united in marriage to Garland Lorraine Ballard on May 17, 1948, in Wichita, Kansas and they established their first home together in Hillsboro, Kansas. This union was blessed with five children, three sons, and two daughters.  William Leo, Garrie Lorraine, Margaret Louise, George Leonard, and Kenneth Lynn. Garland and Margaret were divorced in 1963 and Garland died in 1993. Margaret raised her children in Hillsboro, Kansas, and was active in American Legion Auxiliary, Business Woman Association, and received the Business Woman of the Year Award.

Margaret married Mr. Clarence Edward Cook in 1972 and they moved to Marion, Kansas in 1973 where they stayed until they chose to move to Texas and open a bakery with his brother and wife.  They resided in Carthage, Texas for three years and moved back to Kansas living in Emporia.  Mr. Cook, or C.E. as he was known passed away in 2004.

Margaret worked for several businesses in Wichita while young including Nu-way on Douglas Street, Mid-Co Photo Processing plant, and Ben Franklin stores in various locations.  She worked as a bookkeeper for Ballard’s plumbing store in Hillsboro and worked for Dr. Henry Loewen, DDS., as an office manager and hygienist for many years.  In Texas, she worked in the bakery along with her husband and finally at a Drug Store in Emporia until retirement.

In 1959, Margaret loss her son Kenneth at the age of three days to heart problems.  In 2005 George passed away from complications of flu and heart problems and in 2017, William passed away from lung disease.

Margaret enjoyed camping, fishing, reading, crafts, baking, and cooking for her family.  Later in life, she enjoyed traveling and attending special events with William at his church and the local college theater.

Margaret L. Cook age 91, of Marion, Kansas passed away at St Luke’s’ Living Center on July 4, 2020, while in the company of her family and friends.  Margaret will be welcomed to heaven by those who preceded her in death; her parents, Charles and Leota Blevins; her husband C.E. Cook; her brothers John and Kenneth Blevins; and her three sons, William, George, and Kenneth Ballard.

She is survived by her two daughters Garrie Stang of Humboldt, Kansas, and Margaret (Robert) Nichols, of Marion, Kansas.  She has seven grandchildren, Michael Klassen, Jeffrey (Kendra) Klassen, Gary Ballard, Scott (Ashley) Ballard, Ginger (Mike) James, Samuel Graumann, and Holly (Jeffery) Higgins.

She is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Tempest, McKenna, Annalyn, Collin, McKinlee, Elizabeth (Ellie), and Sophie along with two step-great-grandchildren Raiden and Robert.  Many nieces and nephews.

Margaret had four step-children Robert Cook, Eddy Cook, Shirley Neiko, and Suzanne Cook, along with many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be planned at a later date.  The final resting place will be beside C.E. Cook, and her sons William and George in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Emporia, Kansas.

Memorial suggestions are for St. Luke’s Living Center in care of Roberts Blue Barnett, 605 State Street, Emporia, Kansas, 66801.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website: www.robertsblue.com.

ABOUT CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF KANSAS

Central Christian College of Kansas is a four-year collegiate institution that strives to offer Christ-centered education for the whole person through four core characteristics: heart, soul, mind, and strength. Its history dates back to 1884, and it is located in the friendly town of McPherson, Kansas. Central is a strategically small college that offers over forty areas of residential study and a thriving online program for non-traditional students. To learn more about Central, go to centralchristian.edu/about. Visit the Foundation of Central Christian College to see what projects and events are coming up.