Tributes

The life of Bette Ruth Williams Cook ended on August 13 but not her adventurous spirit, elegance, curiosity and graciousness. These live on in her influence on friends and family members who loved and admired her. She was born to Frank H. and Ruby Williams in San Antonio on March 27, 1927. After graduating from Brackenridge HS in 1944, Bette Ruth attended Stephens College and graduated from UT-Austin as a proud Tri Delta. She and John W. Cook enjoyed a lifelong romance before his death in 2007. Bette's sociology degree and social nature fuelled an intense interest and pleasure in people. Her gift of playing the piano by ear entertained her family and friends; until recently she played hymns at Parklane West. She insisted she'd have been a female Dave Brubeck had a UT professor not forbidden her from playing boogie woogie on the pipe organ. Her analytical way of thinking served her well as a Realtor with Deanie Owens, Cook Co. and Kuper Sotheby's Intl. Realty. She truly loved the business and its gyrations. But her chief passion was classical music. The SA Symphony, International Piano Competition, Area Foundation and Planned Parenthood of S. Texas benefited from her board membership; she was president of the Military Civilian Club and Tri Delta House Corporation Board in Austin and was an active member of the Tuesday Musical Club, Le Club, Live Oak Garden Club, Opera Guild and other groups, and was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church since 1957. She is survived by children Marjorie Hutcheson Palmer of Houston, Frank T. Cook Beryl of Chicago and Nancy Cook-Monroe Mike, great grandchildren Lyles and John Palmer Hutcheson III of Houston, sister-in-law Martha Williams of Arlington, grandchildren Nancy Hutcheson, Austin, J.P. Hutcheson Jr. Lillie of Houston, Caroline Hutcheson Bryan Cory, Katharine and Elizabeth Cook of Chicago, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family thanks the ICU staff of St. Luke's Baptist Hospital, Dr. Christopher Kopecky and Mary Kay Tennant for their care. A memorial service will be held Monday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. For those desiring to, memorials may be made to Planned Parenthood of South Texas, 104 Babcock, San Antonio, 78201; the Opera Guild of San Antonio, P.O. Box 12290

Tributes

Bette Ruth Cook

March 27, 1927 - August 13, 2014