Shirley Ann Cook

At her request she wished to be cremated and wants her ashes spread on the beach in South Padre Island, Texas with her beloved Norman Cook. South Padre Island was one of their favorite vacation spots.

Shirley was born in Decatur, Alabama in the summer of 1942. Her Mother (Annie Louise Lowery) and Daddy (Leon Kelsey Lowery) moved her to Ypsilanti, Michigan when she was 11 years old during the Detroit auto boom in the 1950’s. She is survived by an older sister, Hazel Dearry of New Boston Michigan, and survived by a younger brother Bobbie Lowery, of Chula Vista, CA. She lived up to the definition of the “middle child”, laughing and dancing her way thru life. Shirley married John Stafford in 1958, and they had 3 children. Twin girls born premature and died shortly after birth on August 18, 1960. Debora Diane and Kimberly Ann. In October 1961 they had a daughter, Tracey Lynn. In 1965 she married Daniel Robert Schultz and they had a daughter on January 25, 1968. Camille Dawn (Cami) passed 6 months after birth from SIDS. She suffered great loss in her younger years loosing 3 infant daughters.

From 1973 – 1982 she “common law” married Lyn Laperriere and they traveled the mid-west states drag racing in the NHRA circuit. Drag racing was one of her great loves. And “bench racing” became her favorite past time. Her friends at her senior living community called her “spark plug”. A nickname she wore with pride.

In 1983 she met and married Norman Cook. They met in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and later realized they both grew up in Alabama towns 15 miles apart. Once married, they lived in Dexter, Michigan where she drove a school bus for Dexter Public Schools. They lived in the country and she enjoyed fishing, gardening, garage selling and woodworking. In 1994 they moved to North Richland Hills, Texas to be close to her daughter, Tracey, and son in law Ben Dortch. During her retirement years in Texas, she enjoyed Caribbean cruises, family reunions and numerous vacations with family. After her husband passed, she moved to a Senior living community where she found her last great adventure. Her daily calendar was full of lunches, card games and bean bag baseball. Nothing stopped her from living life to the fullest, not even Dementia.

Shirley was a fiery red head that lived life in the fast lane. She was not afraid of anything and was often described as everyone’s favorite. Since her passing so many family and friends have reached out with a story about an adventure they shared together, and how they will never forget her.

She arrived in heaven just in time to celebrate her 78th birthday with her beloved Norman, her Mother and Daddy and her daughters, Cami, Kim and Debby. She leaves behind nieces and nephews that she loved dearly, and cousins scattered from Alabama to Michigan to California.