Maudie E. Cook

Maudie Eather Say Cook, known to most as Grandma Cook or “Saint Maudie,” left this world to join her Savior in heaven on Thursday night, March 31, 2011. She was born on February 12, 1917, in Alton, Missouri, to John Blake Say and Laura Melissa Risenhoover Say. Maudie was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, two sons, Clyde Alfred and John Edward, and two daughters, Sherrilene Opar and Peggy Weaver. Survivors include three daughters: Mary Blankenship (Paragould), Sally Shepard (Marmaduke), and Martha Rodriguez (Lafe), and five sons: George (North Carolina), Marvin (Paragould), Sam (Texas), Gary (Paragould), and James (Jonesboro). She filled their home with love, laughter, and prayer. As each one of her children married, she added the spouse to her family and treated him or her like her own. She was blessed with 30 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren whom she loved very much. Maudie was known for her incredible sense of humor, her compassionate heart, her wonderful cooking, beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, her love for Jesus, and her devotion to her family. She was the driving force and mastermind of the shop where she and Clarence built furniture and many wooden toys and other items for their children and others in the community. The family will receive friends Saturday, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Heath Funeral Home. The celebration of her life will be Sunday, 3:00 PM at Heath Colonial Chapel with Reverend Josh Carpenter officiating. Burial will follow at Gainesville Cemetery. To sign online register, please visit www.heathfuneralhome.com