Barbara Redford Cook passed away on August 5, 2023, in Salt Lake City, UT, at the age of 91. Barbara was born on January 31, 1932, in Provo, UT. She was the oldest of three children born to Louisa Magleby Redford Woodmansee and Lloyd Hubbard Redford.
Barbara's parents divorced when she was five years old, and as a child of a single mother, she attended school in Monroe, UT, Ogden, UT, Mt. Pleasant, UT, and Salt Lake City, UT. In the fifth grade, she attended three different elementary schools. Barbara’s mother was a home economics teacher, and she taught Barbara how to make her own clothes, cook, and can fruits and vegetables.
Barbara graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City, UT, and attended the University of Utah. She was an officer in Lambda Delta Sigma, an LDS student organization. At the U of U, she received her Social Studies Composite degree in 1953 with an emphasis on psychology and sociology. She taught social studies, civics, Utah history, and language arts at Central Jr. High School from 1953–1956. At Olympus High School, she taught psychology, economics, and world history from 1956–1962.
Barbara met her sweetheart, John Howard Cook Jr., at the U of U. They dated and were engaged on and off for seven years while John was attending medical school and residency training. They finally eloped to the Salt Lake Temple on December 19, 1958.
John and Barabara were members of the Sacra Dulce Chorus and enjoyed lifelong friendships from that association. They also had a wonderful group of friends, the Key Club, who have met together monthly for over 60 years.
Barbara had six children in seven years. Being a mother was a joy for her. She was a full-time mother but managed to be gracious with her time, including serving in the community.
When Barbara's children were mostly grown, she returned to school to renew her teaching certification and received a media certificate. From 1985–1996, she was a media coordinator at Philo T. Farnsworth Elementary School in West Valley City, UT. She was always passionate about children's literature and helped create a children's literature book club, which started when she had her first child and is still meeting today. While she served as a librarian, she was selected by the Utah Legislature as one of the outstanding teachers in the state. She also received the award for outstanding library media coordinator for the state of Utah from the Utah Library Educators (ULEMA). She was both the president and the secretary of the Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU).
Barbara loved to travel and visited many places overseas. She also loved the Utah Shakespeare Festival and, since 1961, has been to the festival for all but three of its seasons. Barbara loved art and was accomplished in both pastels and oils. She enjoyed the Utes sporting events and had season tickets to the U of U basketball since 1969 when the Huntsman Center opened. She also loved to tie quilts, and many sessions of LDS general conference were listened to while stretching a quilt across frames and creating baby gifts for friends and ward members.
Barbara was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings, including stake missionary, Relief Society instructor, Stake Primary, nursery leader, Relief Society President, Primary President, and many others. She was blessed to serve as an adult missionary in the California San Diego mission office. She had a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and exemplified His teachings.
Barbara had thirteen grandchildren: John (Sharayah) Cook IV, Michael (Rachel) Cook, Peter (Megan) Cook, Joseph (Mysti) Wright, Carl Wright, Paul Wright, Steven Wright, Elizabeth (Colton) Anderson, Kara Cook, Hannah Cook, Heidi Cook, Jack (Sara Matlock) Markman, and Kate Markman. She had two great-grandchildren: Samuel Cook and James Joshua Cook.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband; parents; stepparents, Roy Woodmansee and Addie Butcher Redford; and brother, David Redford. As a widow of 37 years, she often talked about the glorious reunion she would have with John and her other loved ones. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Redford Folsom; her children, Carolee (Todd) Wright, John (Natalie) Cook III, Mary Cook, Katie Cook, David (Kristin) Cook, and Sherrie (Bart) Markman; thirteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and eight nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 12, at 11:00 am, at the Yale Ward meetinghouse, 1431 Gilmer Drive, Salt Lake City. Viewing, Friday, August 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, August 12, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., also at the Yale Ward. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the watch services link above.
We feel such gratitude for the time we spent in the company of Barbara and Mary in the Yale Ward Family. We feel deeply blessed by their love and example. We send sincere condolences to all the family. You have lost a treasure for now. Sadly, we are out of town during the funeral services. Our prayers remain with you. Char and Bob
I am so sorry to hear about your mom passing. Your family fills some of favorite childhood memories from the July 4th festivities to the secret passages in your house to a baby shower when I had Amy!, who is now pregnant with her own twins. Your Sherrie/David are my models for Amy's Celeste/Oliver. Sister Cook will forever be one of my favorite Yale Ward members. There are no words when you lose your mother. HUGS. Just happy that ours are together ❤️, having happy reunions. Love to ALL.
Jenn
We send our Aloha and sincere condolences to the Cook family. Sister Cook was always kind to us. Love,
The Hursts
Laie, Hawaii
On behalf of the Richard & Anna Harper family, my sincere condolences to Barbara's family. Barbara was a good friend to both parents, who enjoyed the study group for many years until my dad's dementia prevented them from participating. Every time I encountered Barbara, she was so friendly, kind and gracious.
While I will miss her terribly, I’m grateful that she is no longer in pain and is with Uncle John and her loved ones. She was the greatest example of enduring to the end and Christ like love. She leaves us an amazing legacy in her children. Carolee, John, Mary, Katie, Dave and Sherrie. It is a great blessing to have Aunt Barbara and her children in my life. She was always there for me. I will miss her terribly but I’m so happy that she is no longer in pain. .
I am so sorry to hear of Barbara's passing. What a wonderful reunion for your parents! We remember when they began building their cabin and became cherished neighbors in Panorama. We remember the heartbreak when your Dad passed. He was such a great man. Bob loved working with him and also your Mom later as our Panorama secretary. She did a great service for our community! Your Mom is one of the most remarkable and thoughtfully sweet friend I know. We admire your family. May you know our love, sympathy and prayers are with you at this time. For health reasons I may not be able to be with you at this time. May you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely with love. Donna Breitling (and Bob too!)
To Barbara's Family: I am sending this message from our Sacra Dolce Chorus (SDC) a group that Barbara and Husband John Cook held together for many years with their fireside chats (many at their home) on Sunday evenings, after our Chorus performed in various wards throughout the Salt Lake and Utah Valley.
A few years after John died, Barbara contacted our former Chorus members again and pulled us together for once a month events and to continue singing and keep the friendships of over 50 years now alive.
Thank you Barbara for keeping us together and we look forward to singing with you and John and your family in eternity beyond the veil. I am sure "Doc John" has continued his singing with one of the Tabernacle Choirs in Heaven!
I am so sorry for your loss. I love your mother, your father, and your whole family! You’ve had an impactful influence for the good on my life. :) I am so happy your mom and dad can finally be together again! :)
I only knew Barbara in her later years in the Yale Ward. She was such an example to me of how to be infirm & still do what you love. She participated in our book group of younger women regularly. She’d read (or listened to) the book & had wonderful insights. She was at Church nearly every week in her wheelchair - always in a skirt & with a pleasant greeting for everyone. I loved talking with her. Her comments in Relief Society were powerful & reflected her years of experience in life. I will always be grateful to have known her. Her influence & example will shine brightly in my life for years to come.
What a beautiful funeral today. You posterity of John and Barbara Cook have surely made your parents proud. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Barbara Cook is a treasure to me and a beloved second mother. I have said many, many times over the years that if it wasn't for her, I would have had no self confidence as a teenager. She was my cheerleader then and has continued to be all throughout my life. What an amazing gift she has of making everyone feel loved, heard, important, and cherished. And she wielded that gift like a mighty sword, slashing through the world's lies and helping each of us understand who we really are. Talk about magnifying your talents! She was truly a powerful force for good in this world. And her influence will continue for each of you as you mourn because of the separation that has been created by her graduation from this life. But not to worry, it will only be for a small moment. And if we endure it well, there will certainly be a joyful reunion. My love and admiration for Mary and Katie are enormous for the kind, loving, and devoted way they cared for your mother for several years. May you two be blessed beyond measure for all of the good you have done and the selfless sacrifices you have made in caring for your angel mother. May God carry you in the coming days and weeks.
While attending School at the University of Utah we lived in Yale 2nd ward. We had the opportunity of working with the young adult members of the ward serving with Barbara and her husband John. They offered love and support to many of the the young adult membership members of our. They were wonder and kind servants.