Returning Home - Merlene Stott Cook

Merlene Stott Cook: LOGAN, Utah: Merlene Stott Cook, 89, of Logan, Utah, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2008, of causes incident to age.  Merlene was born March 24, 1919, in Monticello, Utah, the second of three daughters born to C. Orval and Flora B. Stott. Her early childhood was spent in Manti, Utah, where, at the age of 8, she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the baptismal font in the Manti Temple. At age 11, her family moved to Logan and into the 11th Ward that met in the basement of the Logan Tabernacle. Years later, during MIA activities in that ward, she met her future husband, Loyal B. Cook. During the next five years they enjoyed dancing, participating in plays and other MIA and community related activities. Shortly after their engagement in December 1939, Loyal took a job in Washington, D.C. In September 1940, Merlene took a train to Washington, D.C., and with no family in attendance, was married to Loyal on Friday, Sept. 13. This marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple. After living in Washington, D.C., for a year and in Salt Lake City for a couple of years, Loyal joined his father and his brother Blaine in a sheep venture in Northwest Colorado. In 1944, Merlene and Loyal moved their small family to Craig, Colo., and that was her home for the next 23 years. In 1967, four years following the death of her husband Loyal, Merlene moved back to Logan where she finally was able to finish her degree at USU at the age of 50. She took a position in the Counseling and Testing Office at USU, which she held until retirement.
Three boys and three girls were born to Merlene and Loyal. She devoted full-time to raising the children and keeping up with the busy life of a sheepman husband. She was an excellent cook, a great seamstress, a dedicated quilter, and a wonderful housekeeper and loved to sing, singing in every choir and group that she could. The death of her husband forced her to work outside the home to support her and the children still at home. She has always been a devoted and committed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving for years as a Temple Ordinance Worker and as Relief Society president, Primary president and as a full-time missionary in the Atlanta, Ga., Temple. She also supported her husband as he served many years as branch president, member of a district presidency and the stake president of two stakes.
Merlene is survived by five children, Stott Cook, Connie (Charles) Hulme, Bonieta (Devon) Deppe, Dwight (Barbara) Cook and Carla (Ken) Cox; one daughter-in-law, Deena Cook; 34 grandchildren; and 81 great-grandchildren. Merlene was preceded in death by her husband; one, son Kent; her parents; a sister, Verna; and a daughter-in-law, Jeanne.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2008, in the Logan East Stake Center, 1450 E. 1500 North. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2008, at the Allen-Hall Mortuary (34 E. Center) and prior to the funeral services from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Logan East Stake Center. Interment will be in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive.
Published in Logan Herald Journal from March 27 to April 3, 2008