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�� Leah Evans Cook, 93, died November 4, 2008, at Forest Park Health Center, Richmond, Indiana.� Born on March 17, 1915 to William George and Mary Elizabeth Walker Evans, the Dawn, Missouri native was the middle child of five sisters, Mina, Louise, Helen and Jean.�
�� Leah was fond of saying, "I was Dad's little boy," referring to her years of working on the� family farm.� Her strong work ethic was instilled at an early age.�� Leah graduated from Dawn High School in 1932, having excelled as a guard on the girl's basketball team.� Following high school, Leah lived with and worked for her beloved Aunt Gladys Elliott, earning $3.50 a week caring for her five male cousins.�� After three years of careful saving, Leah enrolled at Chillicothe Business College.� A fellow student, Gaston R. Cook, up from Louisiana, caught her attention on a blind date.� The girl who was never going to marry, did so in 1942.�� Gaston and Leah moved a number of time , living in Indiana, Missouri, Illinois and Louisiana during their forty-three years of marriage.� The couple raised two sons, James Andrew and Robert Gregory who grew up in Cameron, Missouri.�� Always an independent spirit, Leah worked outside of the home throughout her marriage, putting to good use her business degree.� She was proud that her hard work and careful saving gave her two sons their college educations.�� In 1982, Gaston and Leah retired to Winchester, Indiana.� Gaston died suddenly in 1985.� As a plucky widow, Leah traveled to many far away places.� She reveled in her treasured girl friends and their good times at the Wise Owls.�� She moved from Winchester to Crown Pointe Retirement Center in Union City, Indiana in 2002� and later to Forest Park in Richmond in June 2007.� The staffs of both facilities will never forget their spunky Leah "Do" Cook.�� Leah is survived by her sons, James (Judy) Cook of Oak Grove, Mo., Robert (Tina) Cook of Richmond.� Also surviving are five grandchildren, including Andrea (William) Carr, Michael (Rebecca) Cook, Kristen (Jeffrey) Miller all of Kansas City, Missouri area, Gregory (Elizabeth) Cook , St. Louis, Missouri, and Jana Cook.� Another daughter-in-law, Carla Cook, of Winchester survives.� Leah was also blessed with ten great-grandchildren.� Further survivors include her special friends, Rowena Bake of Lynn and Pauline Irish of Winchester.��� Leah was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her precious infant daughter, Helen Ann, as well as her four sisters.� Recently, her dear friend, Mildred Hindsley, died.�� A memorial service will be held at Welsh Cemetery in Dawn, Missouri.� There will be no local visitation.�� Memorials may be sent to Leah's church, First United Methodist Church, 313 S. Meridian St. Winchester, IN 47394.� www.riggle-waltermann.com