Lorraine Hill-Cooke

Lorraine Hill-Cooke, age 100, celebrated her life, February 8,1923 to February 24, 2023. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, March 3, 2023. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Merkel on Saturday, March 4, 2023.  Burial will follow at 2:30 PM at the Cooke Family Plot in the Brushy Cemetery, Haskell County, Texas. Lorraine was born to Jacob Edward Schaedler and Clare Bourke Schaedler in Royalton, Minnesota, February 8, 1923. She attended schools in Royalton, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona and graduated from Tucson Sr. High School in 1940.

On September 3, 1941, she married Captain John K. Hill at Davis Monthan Air Force Base and together they had 6 children.  Captain Hill was killed on February 23, 1958. On April 4, 1959, Lorraine was married to Jimmie Cooke, in Tucson, Arizona, and there were four more children added to this union.  Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie, on June 28th, 1999, infant daughter, Barbara Rose Hill and sons, Jimmie Jay Cooke, Sammy Daniel Cooke, and John Kenneth Hill.

Surviving children include sons, Charles Michael Hill and Barbara of Nanaimo, British Columbia; James Dee Hill and Debra, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; Thomas Gary Cooke and Donna, Merkel, Texas.  Daughters include, Dana Gayle Behymer, Galesburg, Illinois,  Loucinda Joy Sage , Kalamazoo, Michigan; Evelyn Lorraine Morse and Charles,  Merkel, Texas. As well as Daughter-in-laws Christi Hill, Mountain Home, Arkansas and Sherry Cooke, Delton, Michigan and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lorraine was never idle and past activities included St. Michael’s and All Angels Migrant Ministries in Tucson, United States Divorce Reform, Inc., Girl Scout Leader, Hospitality House Youth activities, Voted Arizona State Peace Worker of the Year, and when National Security information came to her attention, she became associated with the F.B.I.  as a contact person. Lorraine enrolled in a Journalism Class and began writing as a free-lance reporter. Despite these activities, the family was always involved in camping and fishing at various State and National Campgrounds.

In August 1970 the family moved to Gun Lake, Michigan and Lorraine worked as a Reporter for Hastings Banner, then became a candidate for Township Clerk. As there was a need for volunteers to assist in the local ambulance service, Lorraine took a Red Cross Advanced First Aid Class and later she completed Grand State College Classes in Emergency Medical Technician Specialist to Volunteer her services for the Township Ambulance Service and served 15 years; became Michigan Democratic Delegate to State Convention, Organist St. Francis Episcopal Church, Sunday School teacher. When Lorraine and Jimmie retired in 1992 to their small Noodle ranch, she volunteered to become pianist at the Noodle Baptist Church.  Lorraine served as Republican Chair of Jones County for 15 years and was awarded Republican Party Volunteer of the year 2004 for District 28 by Victor Carrillo at the State Convention. Until June of 2006, she was employed as staff Case Manager with offices at the Work Force Center in Abilene, for 6 years where she continued her desires to serve the community. Another opportunity was afforded for continued service, she became the secretary/treasurer of the First United Methodist Church in Merkel which she held for 3 years. She enjoyed the rest of her life spending time with her children and grandchildren.

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