Ava Lee Cook

Ava Lee Cook of Missoula unexpectedly went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, at the age of 78.

Ava was born several weeks premature to the late Howard and Arlene Michaels in Butte on Dec. 29, 1936, and was said to be a miracle baby.

Ava was raised in Portland, Oregon, and moved to Libby to live with her grandmother shortly after graduating from high school in 1954. She met her first husband, Oscar Kinzle, and they were married Dec. 28, 1955, and eventually settled in Deer Lodge and raised five children together. Ava and Oscar were eventually divorced in 1979 and she married Denny Cook on Feb. 14, 1986, and they resided in Lolo. After the death of her husband Denny in February of 2011, she moved back in with Oscar as his roommate as they remained close through the years.

Ava was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Family was everything to her and she loved us with all of her heart. There rarely was a birthday, anniversary or holiday that went by without her acknowledgement. But what she loved the most was family get-togethers. Christmas Eve will not be the same without her.

Ava also had a heart for service, which she carried out by volunteering her time to help others in need. She volunteered at the Missoula Food Bank for 22 years and when God placed it on her heart that Lolo was in need of a food bank, she responded and established the food bank there 12 years ago. In addition to her work at the food banks, she was also a senior companion with Missoula Aging Services. She also volunteered for Youth for Christ at the "Jesus Lunch" at the Garden City Church once a week for Hellgate High School students for 12 years.

Ava received much praise for her efforts, but the award that she was most proud of was the Serve Montana Award presented to her by the governor's office in 2010 for her thousands of hours of volunteer service. When asked what motivated her to serve she would respond, "It's the people." Ava's examples of love and service to others were an inspiration to her family and those who knew her.

Besides Ava's volunteer efforts, she was an avid reader, crocheted dozens of blankets and hundreds of wash cloths, and loved cats almost as much as people. Her last cat, Dolly, will be lost without her.

Ava is survived by her first husband, Oscar Kinzle; her sons, Dan Kinzle of Missoula, Jon (Dawn) Kinzle of Butte and Rob (Pam) Kinzle of Polson; her daughter, Cindy (John) Moree of Missoula; her stepson, Lynn Cook of Renton, Washington; her stepdaughters, Dena Wooten of Meridian, Idaho, Kelly Haberman of Asotin, Washington, and Jana (J.R.) Reynolds of Boise, Idaho; her brother, Keith Michaels of Portland, Oregon; her half brother, Shawn Michaels of California; her half sister, Sheila Raines of Kelseyville, California; her stepsister, Annette Boyd of Portland; nine grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Constance Dawn Kinzle; and her husband, Dennison Cook.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Elevate Church in Missoula followed by a reception.


Read Ava Cook's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.