Opal Rufene Cook

Opal Rufene Prestidge Cook was born March 4, 1924, in Powell, Texas, the only child of Rufus W. and Ida Lucille Spurgeon Prestidge. She passed from this life on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, in Winnsboro, Texas. Graveside services will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, at 11:00AM, on Saturday, February 2, 2013. Graveside services are under the direction of Beaty Funeral Home, Winnsboro, Texas.

After graduating as salutatorian of Talco High School in 1941, she married the love of her life, John F. Cook in Talco, TX. They raised three daughters, ran a business, retired and traveled in their motor home throughout the United States, where they made many wonderful friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and then by her husband in 2000.

She is survived by three daughters; Diana Fults and husband Wiley of Greenville, Texas, Jeanie Graves and husband Rickey of Crossett, Arkansas, and Sallie Bell and husband Sammy of Winnsboro, Texas. Also surviving are grandchildren Jill, Jon Derek, and Melissa plus great-grandchildren, Brayden, Ethan, Jillian, Jack, Avery, and Hannah; niece, Dr. Bonny Cain of Waco; nephews, Barry Cook of Gladewater, Richard Rankin of Dallas and brother-in-law, Mack Rankin of Dallas.

She was a 50-plus year faithful member of Talco Calvary Baptist Church and was currently a member of First Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant.

She was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star, having held membership for over fifty years and served as Worthy Matron and many other positions in the Talco Chapter. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Mt. Vernon Chapter of the Eastern Star.

She was a strong Christian woman, a great wife, loving mother and grandmother, an excellent seamstress, and made the BEST chocolate chip cookies and German Chocolate Cake around.

She will be forever missed by her family and a host of friends.