Bonnie Cook

COOK, Bonnie S.
Fort McCoy – Bonnie S. Cook, 85, has gone to heaven. She passed away peacefully at home, May 18, 2015. Born April 24, 1930, in Fremont, NB, to Henry Oliver Shonyo and Irene Mae Rudiger Shonyo, she moved to Fort McCoy in 1933, where she spent the rest of her life as a resident of the town.

A woman of deep Christian faith and strong convictions, Bonnie was the heart of the Cook family. Her zest for life was evident in her smiles and laughter. Bonnie had a passion for the people and the community of Fort McCoy. Her home was filled with joy. Everyone was welcome there and loving motherly advice freely given (whether asked for or not). Mema, as she was known to many, was a mother to multiple generations, in addition to raising her own children, she had the honor of raising her three oldest grandsons.  In 1948 Bonnie was baptized in Silver Lake and joined the First Baptist Church, where she served God and volunteered throughout her life. It was not uncommon to find students in her Sunday school classrooms whose parents or even grandparents had first been instructed in lessons of the Bible by Bonnie decades earlier.

Bonnie was caring and compassionate always putting the needs of others before her own. She and her husband Charles, owned and operated Cook Company Market, now Fort McCoy Grocery, where hungry locals were never turned away. As a registered nurse, she was only a phone call away from anyone in need, freely serving locals' healthcare needs as a friend and Parish nurse. Bonnie spent the majority of her nursing career at Munroe Regional Medical Center where she retired as a Nursing Supervisor. For her years of community service, Bonnie was nominated by the Ocala Star Banner as Volunteer of the year in 2005. She was honored and humbled by this extraordinary recognition.

It was the simple things in life that Bonnie never took for granted; boat rides on the river, baking cookies, playing with children, humming birds, fresh-cut flowers and the companionship of her pets. Bonnie loved to read, travel, and chat with friends and family. In the last five years of Bonnie's life, her great granddaughter, Shelby brought much joy to her heart with limitless hours of play time and tea parties.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Irene Shonyo; brothers, William (Bill) and Benjamin Boyd Shonyo; and loving husband, Charles Cook.  She is survived by her son, Fred (Mickey) H. Cook Sr.; daughters, Alice Cook Laxton (husband Mark), Mary Cook Russo (husband Scott), Mae Cook DeLapp (husband Stephen); eight grandchildren; Fred Cook Jr., Joe Cook (wife Shona), Charlie Cook, Kirk Laxton, Emily Laxton, Brooks Russo, Haley Russo, Alexander DeLapp; great-granddaughter, Shelby Cook; niece Claudia Shonyo Van Buren, and nephews, Gary Shonyo, Michael Cook; and much loved extended family.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at First Baptist Church of Fort McCoy, (11350 E Hwy 316) with a visitation beginning one-hour prior.  A reception will follow in the New Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Fort McCoy, Building Fund, P.O. Box 480, Fort McCoy, FL 32134 or Hospice of Marion County, 3231 SW 34th Ave, Ocala, FL  34474. Arrangements under the care of Countryside Funeral Home, Anthony, FL.