Connie Marie Cook

Mrs. Connie Marie (Sims) Cook passed away on January 11th, 2016. Connie spent her adult life in the Arvada and Parker, Colorado area after growing up in DeRidder, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Cook, her parents Virgil and Dorothy Sims, and her brother Harry (Butch) Sims.

Connie is survived by her children, Bob Cook and Mary Francis, Don and Rosemary Cook, Jan and Jerry Counts, Jeanette and Mike Bifulco, and stepdaughter Susan Dray; grandchildren Katie Richards (Counts) and Mark Richards, Ryan Counts, Caleb Cook, and Nick Bifulco. Connie is also survived by her sisters Sandra Rogers and Glenda Calcote (Charlie), and brother Larry Sims (Linda), all of DeRidder, Louisiana; sisters-in-laws Ellen Hughes (Tom), Marilyn Artman (Ed), Lorene Cyr (Fred), and Helen Wascher, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation is Thursday, January 14th from 4 to 7 pm at Crown Hill Mortuary, and followed by a noonday service on Friday, January 15th at Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, 29th and Wadsworth, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Pallbearers are Jerry Counts, Mike Bifulco, Ryan Counts, Caleb Cook, Nick Bifulco, and Mark Richards. Honorary Pallbearers are Bob Cook, Don Cook, Katie Richards (Counts), Fred Cyr, Tom Hughes, and Ed Artman.

Connie was born in Denver, Colorado on August 5th, 1934 to Virgil and Dorothy Sims, and was their first child. At age 4, Connie moved with her family to DeRidder, Louisiana, where her family farmed and had a dairy. Connie was a country girl and farm life fostered an interest in 4-H and business. Connie was a 1952 graduate of DeRidder High School where she was a member of the Beta Club, Student Council, Newspaper staff, Annual staff, Senior 4-H Club serving as secretary-treasurer 3 years and president 1 year, Parish Vice President 1 year, National 4-H Congress delegate and Royal 4-H Conference delegate and was a F.H.A. Parish Parliamentarian. Connie attended what is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for one year studying business with the aspiration of becoming a Home Demonstration Agent. Later she furthered her education at Barnes Business School in Denver.

In 1956 Connie married Frank Cook in Denver, Colorado and lovingly raised their four children, Bob, Don, Jan and Jeanette. Frank and Connie purchased their first home in Arvada and then later purchased property in Parker where they and their children built their home together. Connie also worked many years in office administration at Mountain States Ford-Isuzu Trucks. After retirement, she volunteered for many years at the Parker, Colorado public library. It was her wish that if anyone desired to do so, that in lieu of flowers, contributions could be made to the Parker Library in her memory.

Connie loved life, her little dog Gabe, smiling, reading, gardening and canning, sewing, garage/estate shopping, a good bargain, and traveling, but most of all, Connie loved her family and friends. We miss you Connie!