Mrs. Shirley Ruth Cook

Shirley Ruth Cook, age 88, of Orange Beach, Alabama, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023, surrounded by her family at Westminster Village in Spanish Fort, Ala. Shirley was born March 6, 1935 in Tower City, Pa., to Walter and Ruth Bowman. She married her high school sweetheart, George “Bud” Cook, on June 19, 1953 and he preceded her in death after 50 years of marriage. Shirley is survived by her two children, Michael (Lauri) Cook of Acworth, Ga., and Cheryl (John) Korte of Fairhope, Ala.; four grandchildren, Aaron (Bobbi) Korte, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Tiffany Korte of Daphne, Ala., Alexandra Riley of Acworth, Ga., and Michael Cook Jr. of Acworth, Ga.; six great-grandchildren, Zach (Hope) Korte of Ponce de Leon, Fla., Ethan, Hope and George Korte of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Andrew Korte of Daphne, Ala., and Aiden Riley of Acworth, Ga. She is also survived by a sister, Dolores Charnock of Midland, Va., and her brother, Jim (Barbara) Bowman, of Littleton, Colo., as well as several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her sister Joan Doggendorf and a great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth Anne Korte. She attended Eastern High School in Baltimore, Md., and graduated from Lansing Community College with an associate’s degree in Arts. She volunteered and was later hired at the American Cancer Society in Fairfax, Va. She also worked at D’Arcy MacManus Masius in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and The Patent Trader in Mount Kisco, N.Y. But her real passion was volunteering. She gave her time over the years at Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter, public television fundraising, Our Lady of the Gulf Altar Rosary Society, Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and working with second graders at Summerdale Elementary. Shirley was unbeatable in any word game and leveraged that knowledge in crossword puzzles and Wheel of Fortune. She also enjoyed reading, watching Jeopardy, playing cards with her friends and spending time with her family. The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for their care of their mother, particularly her nurse Amber Champion. A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Family will receive friends at 10 a.m. in the church hall. Shirley requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave., Mobile, AL 36604 or the Christian Service Center, 317 Dolphin Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542.

Mrs. Shirley Ruth Cook

March 6, 1935 - May 27, 2023