Barbara Marie Cook

Barbara Marie Cook (August 21, 1932 - June 27, 2020) Barbara was born in Detroit, Michigan to Austin Bruce Collier (Kingston, Ontario & Victoria, Alberta) and Amy Marie Hilliker (Woodstock, Ontario), both of whom had moved to Detroit from their native Canada. Throughout their upbringing, Barbara and her younger brother Barry attended Nardin Park Methodist Church in Detroit and later in Farmington. Barbara attended Bagley Elementary School and graduated from Redford High School in Detroit in 1950. It was at Tapp Intermediate School in 7th grade that she met her soulmate and husband-to-be, James Wyatt Cook at a Friday night dance. During these formative years, she played violin in the Detroit Youth Symphony Orchestra. Barbara attended Denison University in Ohio her freshman year and made many lifelong friends. Sadly, her father passed away that summer and she returned home to Detroit and attended Wayne State University where she also worked as student secretary for the Education Department. Upon graduation, she worked as an elementary level teacher in Redford Union School District. During the mid-1950s, while James served in the military, the young couple spent s...[more]

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ral enriching years near Verona and Venice Italy where Barbara taught in the elementary school on the Army base. In 1962, she and James moved to Albion, Michigan as her husband had accepted a position as a professor of English at Albion College where he eventually retired as professor emeritus. The young family put down roots in their beloved new hometown of Albion with children Chris, Kathy and David. Barbara was actively engaged in numerous professional and civic activities throughout her life. As a career educator, she taught for many years at Harrington Elementary, as well as in the Gifted-and-Talented program at Washington Gardner Junior High School. She later became one of the pioneering figures in the fledgling field of educational programming for gifted and talented students, receiving special commendation from the Michigan Future Problem Solving Executive Board. Upon retirement in 1993, she received special recognition for her 16 years of exemplary service from Albion Public Schools. Barbara was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and was an active participant in numerous civic organizations and causes, including AAUW, ELT Club, Albion Community Theatre, and as a leader of the local Girl Scouts troop. Upon retirement, she and James moved to the Traverse City Area. Barbara deeply enjoyed her summers at her family cottage on remote Lake Manitouwabing in McKellar, Ontario. There, she was surrounded by extended family and friends, filling her days by cooking on an old wood stove, fishing, swimming, canoeing and water skiing up until age 70! A lover of nature, she could name many species of birds, flowers and trees on sight. She had a passion for culture and the fine arts, while also enjoying needlepoint, lit group, bridge group, and playing violin in the Albion College Orchestra and String Quartet. At home, she and James would play duets together, with James on viola and Barbara on her violin. Barbara is survived by her husband James, and children Chris, Kathy and David, and six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any charitable contributions in her name be made to support Albion youth in attending Albion College at the: Build Albion Fellows Program at Albion College 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224 www.albion.edu/giving