Peggy McKusker Cook of Nederland, Texas went to be with her Lord and Savior while surrounded by her husband and family in her home on October 24, 2023, at the age of 84.
Peggy was born to John and Dorothy McKusker on November 30, 1938, in Port Arthur, Texas. She was the oldest of eight children and her maternal spirit blossomed at an early age as she helped care for her younger siblings. She graduated from Port Neches Groves High School in 1957, where her purple pride always ran deep. Though she loved her Indians, she married a Nederland Bulldog, Francis Gerald Cook, on June 6, 1959. They remained by each other’s side for 64 years, until The Father called her home from their house on Central Blvd, where they resided for nearly their entire marriage. Throughout their marriage, they spent many years traveling the globe, even spending an entire summer with their travel trailer in Alaska, where they even got chased by a bear. In her time on Earth, Peggy was a wonderful and devoted mother to her three daughters, she was a remarkable seamstress, but an even better cook and if she was in the kitchen, you sure were in for a treat. She was a lover of bringing children to Christ as a 2-year-old Sunday School teacher for decades, a charter member of the Jefferson County Water District 10 Volunteer Fire Department where she was one of the first women to ever drive the fire engine, and she was easily described by many as “the world’s greatest Nana”. Though Peggy was never officially employed, she worked every day of her life as a homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, caregiver, and friend. She spent many, many years selling fireworks for the family business or cooking to feed the many workers.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy McKusker, her brother John Dewey McKusker Jr, and her sister, Donnie Prudence Rothenberger. She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Gerald Cook; three daughters: Yolanda Thibodeaux (husband Nathan) of Fannett, Regina Cook Daniels of Orangefield, and Melanie Jenkins of Lewisville; five sisters: Patricia, Pam, Paulette, Phyllis, and Penny Jo; eight grandchildren: Ashley Mark (wife Diane), Kira St. Pierre (husband Jacoby), Rachael Gumber (husband Stephen), Camille Daniels, Callie Cornwell (husband Wayne), Matthew Thibodeaux (fiancé Alex), Shannon Jenkins, and Louis Jenkins; and eleven great-grandchildren: Lillie, Cole, Wyatt, Zadieblake, Aubryn, Bennett, Jarrett, Harper, Kora, Whitley, and Hazel.
Pallbearers include Matthew Thibodeaux, Louis Jenkins, Nathan Thibodeaux, Wayne Cornwell, Diane Mark, Cole Mark, Wyatt Harding, and Taylor McGilvray. Honorary Pallbearers include Kelly Grafton, Deron Grafton, Gerald West, Stephen Gumber, Gary McGilvray, Hunter McGilvray, Tommy Wells, Jerry Bledsoe, and Kent Tanner.
A gathering of family and friends will be on Sunday, October 29 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Melancon Levingston Funeral Home in Nederland. A service of the celebration of her life will be held Monday, October 30 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Nederland, led by Brother Jason Burden. All services are under the direction of Melancon Levingston Funeral Home in Nederland.