Obituary of Paula T. Cook

Paula Theressa Cook, 60-years-young, from Lewiston Utah, passed February 6, 2015 in American Fork Utah after a courageous battle with cancer. Paula was born in Price, Utah as the the fifth of ten children. Paula graduated from Pleasant Grove High School a year early and attended Snow college in Ephraim Utah where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in business. When asked if she majored in anything else at Snow College she said, "Yes, eating". Paula went on to work for the Bureau of Land Management in Duchesne, Utah. While working for the BLM she moved across the western United States to places like Durango Colorado, Page and Flagstaff Arizona, Weaverville California, and Los Alamos New Mexico. She had government clearance to places we all would like to see. While working for the BLM she received her engineering degree. Paula was very independent her entire life. Although she never married she had many proposals. She felt that if she was married she would not be able to give a 100% to what she enjoyed doing most which was helping others by giving of her time and money to make life easier for others. Paula was the sister and aunt that everyone flocked to, the one that holds the family together. There’s not a sister, brother, niece or nephew that hasn’t spent a summer with Paula wherever she lived. Paula always made time for family, friends, and even complete strangers making them feel loved and welcomed. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Paula loved and helped raise many children throughout her life, offering unconditional love and support by her example, kindness and steadfastness. Paula was in her 50s when she adopted her daughter Dakota, whom she raised since birth. As an example of the kind of love that Paula had for her family she quit her job and moved home to Lewiston in the early 2000’s to take care of her mother. Paula never complained, and when asked how she was doing she always said, "great". Even in her final days she still said she was doing okay. Paula was predeceased by her father Raymond Newman Cook, mother Alberta Perkins Cook and brother Douglas Clyde Petty. She is survived by her daughter Dakota Nicole Williams-Cook and siblings Cheryl Conder, Pam Nerdin, Karl Cook, LaRae Edwards, Kevin Cook, Vivian West, Kristina Cook, and Wade Cook. Services will be held Thursday, February 12, 2015. The viewing will begin at 8:45am followed by service at 10:00am in American Fork Harbor 2nd Ward (600 South 100 West). Grave side dedication will follow at 2:00pm at the Altamont-Mount Emmons Cemetery. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all those who helped care for Paula including the Salt Lake Ice Wolves hockey league, IHC Hospice in Provo, Harbor 2nd Ward Relief Society, as well as many family and extended-family members. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Paula T. Cook Trust at Utah Community Credit Union.