Tina Louise Cook

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 1, 2015, the most beautiful woman in the world, Tina Louise Cook, went to be with Jesus.

The oldest of four children, Tina was born March 7, 1958, in San Diego. In her early teens, she moved with her family to Hardin, where she attended high school, participating in choir competitions and starring in several school theater productions, including the roles of Helen Keller and Cinderella. After graduating in 1976, Tina and her family moved to Deer Lodge, where she worked in the registrar's office. On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted, sending ash clouds into the air hundreds of miles away. That same day a young man, seeing the storm clouds on the horizon, offered his jacket to Tina as they sat watching a local softball game. A year and a half later, on Nov. 28, 1981, Tina married that same young man, Kevin D. Cook, in his parents' living room.

Kevin and Tina set up residency in Missoula, where they proceeded to produce and raise eight children. Tina chose to stay at home to raise and educate their children, devoting endless hours to cooking, cleaning, teaching, mentoring, dancing, singing and, most of all, unconditionally loving her children and, eventually, her grandchildren. Reading aloud, singing around the dinner table, studying the Bible and kitchen dancing were just a few of the things she and her children loved doing together.

In 2013, Tina realized a lifelong dream when her daughter Kimberly took her on a three-week tour of France and Italy.

Beautiful, patient, kind, sensitive, an excellent listener, strong, courageous, tender, funny, loving, humble – Tina was all of these things. Although she often felt inconsequential in the grand scheme of the world, she underestimated the impact her life had and continues to have on the communities her children have inhabited, from Kona, Hawaii, to Missoula, to Harpenden, England. She will be missed by many who love her and look forward to being reunited with her again one day.

She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Kevin Cook; her children, Samantha, Danielle (Cook) Yoder and John Yoder, Patrick, Kimberly, David, Katherine, Elizabeth and Joshua; and her granddaughters, Avalon, Eden and Isis.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 7, at 1 p.m. at Clark Fork City Church (Stephen R. Valentine Community Center), 2811 Latimer St., in Missoula.
Read Tina Cook's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.