Jessie Catherine Miller Cook, 99, of Hazel, KY went home to be with the Lord on January 31 at the Forum at Brookside in Louisville, KY.
She was born May 3, 1925 in Hazel, Kentucky and was the daughter of Irene Paschall Miller Smotherman and Dewey Smotherman. Jessie was married to Robert (Bob) Russell Cook on December 24, 1946 and was preceded in death by Bob on October 11, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Paula Cook Smith of Union City, TN on April 6, 2023. She is survived by her youngest daughter, Regina Cook-Pfeiffer and husband Dave Pfeiffer, Louisville, KY; three grandchildren: Christopher Pfeiffer of Louisville, KY, Michael Pfeiffer of Jeffersonville, IN, and Tiffany Jones of Union City, TN,; and great-grandson, Kaleb Byars, Paducah, KY.
Jessie graduated from Hazel High School in 1943 and moved to Michigan to work at a plant that made screws for World War II airplanes. She moved back to Hazel in 1945, and married Bob in 1946. She worked as a stay-at-home wife and mom, and often served as President of the PTA at Hazel Elementary School where both daughters went to school. She was a member of Hazel Baptist Church for 74 years, taught the 4 year old Sunday School class for 43 years with her best friend, Jerrie Miller, served in leadership in the Women's Missionary Union, and enjoyed teaching in Vacation Bible School. But her favorite thing in the world was being a grandmother and loved spending time with her grandchildren playing cards, reading books, or watching movies.
Besides spending time with her family and friends, Jessie had a passion for travel in the last 20 years of her marriage to Bob. They visited Hawaii (seven times, as she liked to tell people), England, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and many other places. For the last 20 years of her time living in Hazel, she was known in her church as "the Flower Lady" because she took on the responsibility of making sure the Communion Table always had a beautiful floral arrangement on it each week. Jessie was also known for being sure that those who needed help were taken care of, and often took food and clothing to whoever needed it.
Due to a decline in her health, Jessie left the home she'd lived in for 55 years to move to Louisville to be near Regina and her family, whom she called her angels. She lived at The Forum at Brookside Senior Living Community for the last 14 years of her life where she made many friends over the years. She was a beloved member of their Assisted Living Community for the last 4 years.
Visitation will be at Westport Road Baptist Church in the Chapel (9705 Westport Rd, Louisville, KY 40241) on Monday, February 10, 2025 from noon till 4pm, with a Celebration of Life at 4pm. On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 there will be a visitation from 2pm till 4pm at Imes Funeral Home (311 N. 4th St, Murray, KY 42071) with a private burial service in the Murray Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Jessie be made to Scarlet Hope, a Christian ministry that Regina has served with for many years. Giving envelopes will be available at both locations or donations in memory of Jessie can be sent to Scarlet Hope, 2305 Sycamore Street, Louisville, KY 40206 or sent through their website Scarlet Hope.
