Janet "J-Bird" Cook

J-Bird was born on the 6th of April 1947, in Texas City, ten days before the Texas City explosion (a fact she often shared with friends and strangers alike). Her family later moved to La Marque, where she grew up alongside her sister, Connie, and brother, Steve, both of whom she adored. After graduating from La Marque High School, she had big-city aspirations and moved to New York City to attend The Tobe Coburn School for Fashion. Her love of adventure and fearless embrace of change led her to pursue several different careers throughout her life that took her to nearly every corner of the country. She ultimately found her way home to Texas in 1998.

While living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she became a mother, the job she was proudest of. She loved her daughter, Lytch, immeasurably and poured her heart and soul into being a wonderful mom. She recently became a grandmother, and her 17-month-old grandson, Mills, was the apple of her eye.

J-Bird was a woman of great faith. She sang in the choir at First Presbyterian Church for over 20 years. Her "choir buddies," as she called them, were some of her dearest friends.

She was a nurturer at her core and adored her family. She delighted in family traditions, including continuing to give Easter baskets to her adult daughter and son-in-law and requiring her family to "feed the reindeer" every Christmas by throwing glitter in the yard. She made friends everywhere she went and cared deeply for each person (or animal) that crossed her path. She was an expert at making those around her feel loved. She loved animals (especially dogs and horses), flowers, and being outside. She took daily walks to the Cullen Sculpture Garden and Hermann Park and played in a women's golf club. She was creative and often wrote poetry. Undoubtedly, she was blessed with the gift of gab and relished any opportunity to share a good story, especially if her family was the subject. She loved to laugh and make others laugh.

J-Bird's wit, humor, strength, and incredible capacity for love were genuinely one-of-a-kind, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her beloved partner, Steve Naeve; her daughter, Lytch Gutmann (Adam), and grandson, Mills; her brother, Steve Anderson; her nieces, Katie Anderson, Jennifer Martin (Dave), and Elizabeth Albandi (Arash); her nephew, Michael Hooper (Laura); and her great-nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother, Lydia Mills Orr; her father, Reader Anderson; her sister, Connie Hooper; and her nephew, Carey Hooper.

A memorial service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning, on Friday, the 6th of October, in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 13400 S #510, Riverton, UT 84096; or a charity of one’s choice.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with her family by selecting the "Add a Memory" icon below.