Mrs. L. Bertha (Hart) Cook

Mrs. L. Bertha Cook, 98, formerly of Little Swan Lake, Avon, Illinois, passed away at 10:32 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2020 at the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville.

She was born June 21, 1922 at the family home in Ellisville Township, Fulton County, Illinois, to Charles W. and Edna (Young) Hart.  She married Everett H. Cook on May 13, 1943 in Kahoka, Missouri.  He preceded her in death on June 19, 2013.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, one son, David R. Cook, one son-in-law, Kenneth Williamson, two sisters, Mildred Homer and Virginia Perry, and one brother, Charles Hart.

Bertha is survived by a son, Richard C. (Kathy) Cook of Jacksonville, Illinois; three daughters, Jeanne (Rick) Morrison of rural Abingdon, Julia Williamson of rural Avon and Joyce (John) Hutchins of Avon; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

She grew up in the Ellisville and London Mills areas and was raised by her grandparents, George Kay and Lillie Young and her aunt and uncle, Alva and Doris Davis, and was treated just like a sister by Lester, Stanley and Leland Davis.  She graduated from London Mills High School and later from the Peoria School of Beauty Culture.  She was first and foremost a mom and homemaker.  She also worked as a beautician and later in retail music at the former Flesher House of Music in Galesburg.  She and her husband lived at Little Swan Lake near Avon for several years before moving to Avon.

She was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which later united with the London Mills United Methodist Church.  She is currently a member of the Avon United Methodist Church, where she was very active in music, directing and singing in choirs, and teaching Sunday school classes.  She provided piano music for the Avon Nursing Home church service for 20 years.  She was a member of the Farmington Chapter of the DAR.  Her favorite hobbies included traveling all over the United States with her family, quilting, knitting and sewing.

Private service will be Thursday, November 19, 2020 at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel.  Dr. David Phillips will officiate.  There will be no visitation.  Due to guidelines associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic, social distancing and facemasks will be required with limited seating.  Those wishing to attend the funeral “virtually” may watch the live broadcast at 1 p.m. Thursday on the funeral home’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hinchliff-Pearson-West-Funeral-Directors-and-Cremation-Services-160333664037824.  Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ellisville Township. 

Memorials may be made to Ellisville Heroes in care of Julia Williamson, 33252 N County Highway 26, Avon, IL 61415.  Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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