Florence M. Cooke

SMYRNA - Florence M. Cooke of Smyrna died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.

She was the daughter of the late John W. and Lydia L. Jacobs of Smyrna.

Mrs. Cooke founded and operated Loving Care Nursery School, a Christian school, in 1964.

She was a pioneer in the Child Care and Early Care in Education profession. She represented the child care community on many task forces, committees and boards for the betterment of the lives of children in Delaware.

Mrs. Cooke was most proud of sharing the love of God and the Christian faith with the generations of children in her care.

She was a lifelong active member of Asbury United Methodist Church, Smyrna, where she was listed on the "cradle roll," was a soloist from the age of 4 and active in the junior choir, intermediate choir and senior choir.

Mrs. Cooke taught Sunday school for more than 30 years and served on the Administrative Board, Pastor-Parish Relations, Cemetery Committee, a charter member of the Harvey C. Jones Bible Class, Prayer Chain, Altar Guild, Worship Committee, head usher and coordinator of ushers, etc.

She was also a member of the 20th Century Club and served as vice president and chaplain for many years; and the Town & Country Homemakers Club, having served as an officer many times.

Mrs. Cooke was a charter member and past president of the Smyrna Garden Club, a life member of the Duck Creek Historical Society and was a member of the Harrington Moose Lodge, where she and her husband, "Cookie," enjoyed dancing and working for the good works of the Moose for many years.

She was a member of the Friends of the Library, the Agricultural Museum's Guild, Smyrna-Clayton Heritage Society and the Kent County Republican Women's Club.

While president of the Smyrna Garden Club, Mrs. Cooke initiated annual awards for outstanding gardens and landscaping in the Smyrna area, where people received a pat on the back for their efforts in all areas of gardening that beautified the community.

It was under her guidance that a scholarship was established for students studying horticulture or agriculture sciences.

Mrs. Cooke served on the advisory board of the Delaware Home and Hospital, Smyrna.

As president, she was very active in the affairs of the hospital, especially the young adult unit, which she was instrumental in creating so that young people could be together as a unit and not mixed in with the older population of the hospital.

Mrs. Cooke organized area service organizations to donate coffee pots to the hospital so that the residents could have coffee to drink in their units, not just at meals. She organized many parties for the patients and dinner trips to the Wayside Inn in an effort for the patients to have some normal activities in their lives.

She wrote a "History of Smyrna." The book was sold and the proceeds given to the restoration of the Barracks on Smyrna's Main Street (a property of the Duck Creek Historical Society).

Mrs. Cooke was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for 12 years, taking the girls in her care to New York City to the U.N., to Washington, D.C., Longwood Gardens, the Delaware Art Museum, as well as camping and many other activities that promoted friendship and learning.

She was a Republican with a capital "R." She had been a Republican committee person and former chairman of the old 30th Representative District, and the 28th Representative District.

Mrs. Cooke served as campaign chairman for Robert Riddaugh when he served in the House of Representatives.

She was also a member of the Republican State Committee and a delegate to many conventions.

Mrs. Cooke served as a hostess at the Governor's House during the "Camelot" years of Gov. and Mrs. Pierre S. duPont IV, and also for Gov. Michael Castle.

She enjoyed the festivals and tours at the Governor's House and the special things that Mrs. Elise duPont initiated and presented with elegance and beauty.

Mrs. Cooke wrote a column for the Smyrna/Clayton Sun Times called "Good Things From the Soil" for over three years, sharing her love of gardening and recognizing community members who beautified the community for all.

She was voted the 1988 Outstanding Citizen in the Smyrna/Clayton Sun Times annual contest.

The Smyrna-Clayton Janecees presented Mrs. Cooke a plaque in honor of her work with fund-raising for leukemia.

She also received a plaque from the Duck Creek Historical Society for writing the "History of Smyrna."

Mrs. Cooke recently established a Smyrna Red Hat Society, where she was the queen. She and her friends enjoyed going out to lunch and dressing up in their red hat finery, and just having fun and enjoying the blessings of good friendships.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Franklin T. Cooke; brothers, Benjamin F. Jacobs, Edwin "Dick" Jacobs, William Jacobs, John W. Jacobs Jr., Charles Jacobs and Samuel Jacobs; and sisters, Irene Jacobs, Helen Regeneaur, and Gertrude Lovegrove.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving daughter and son-in-law, Bettielou and Bill Wagner of Smyrna; stepdaughter, Juliet Wagner of Boulder, Colo.; and countless children whose lives she touched as she loved and cared for them at Loving Care Nursery School for over 43 years.

Services will be 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Asbury United Methodist Church, 20-24 W. Mt. Vernon St., Smyrna, where friends may call two hours prior to services.

Interment will be 11 a.m. Monday in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.

Memorial donations may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 330, Smyrna, DE 19977; the Kent County SPCA, 32 Shelter Circle, Camden, DE 19943; or Delaware Hospice Inc., 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.