Marjorie Edna Joan Cooke

Marjorie Edna Joan Cooke was born in Salisbury,Wiltshire, England to Herbert and Ada Barlow Sellwood on Sept. 3, 1921. She passed away on Sept. 11, 2015 at her home. She was the youngest of three surviving children. An athletic child, she won medals in running and swimming events. She worked as a secretary to an English colonel as a young woman in England and lunched sitting on the stones at Stonehenge. She met her Army Engineer husband, James Kenneth Cooke during the war effort at a news stand in Salisbury. A persistent Ken bought a scarf for the auburn haired Joan and later they were married in Salisbury at St. Martin’s Church on May 15, 1945. As a war bride, she and their first daughter left England and her family in 1946 and came to the US on the ship Queen Mary. Ken met them in New York and they came by train to Oregon. The pair loved to dance and enjoyed attending military balls and local social events. Joan and Ken had a contracting business in Grants Pass and later operated the Myrtle Craft Studio and Factory on Dowell Rd. She was an active 68 year member of the American Legion Aux., The Pink Ladies Hospital aux., a life member of The Josephine County Sheriff’s Posse, life member of Caveman Vintage Car Club and more. She was an avid knitter and made hundreds of hats for area charities and bazaars. She collected toys for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. She loved antiquing and had a massive collection of vintage clothing and jewelry, which she shared through local schools and historical programs. She and Ken wore authentic period clothing while driving their vintage cars in local parades and events. Joan had a large collection of elephant figurines that continually grew. She is survived by her children, Jean Schmidt, Suzanne Shoemaker, Terry Cooke and Robert Cooke, all of Grants Pass, five Grandchildren: Jeff Van Cleave, Kevin Cooke, Justin Shoemaker, Jerred Shoemaker and Kayleen Cooke, eight great grandchildren as well as nephews and nieces in England and in the US, and a sister in law, Odella Coons. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Kenneth Cooke, a grandson, James, her brother, Eric Sellwood, sister, Betty Maple and sister in law, Winnie Sellwood of England. There will be a viewing on September 23 from 2 to 4 PM at Hull and Hull Funeral Directors, 612 NW “A” St., Grants Pass and graveside services on September 24 at 1 PM at Granite Hill Cemetery, 2551 Upper River Rd.,Grants Pass.