Colleen "Connie" Sue Cook

Colleen Sue (Suthard) Cook "Connie" Connie gave so much to the lives of her family and friends, sharing love and laughter with us for 76 years before leaving us to become an angel of June 11, 2012. She was born on December 3, 1935 in Okemah, Oklahoma, the sixth of seven children, born to James and Eleanor Suthard. She graduated from Edmonds High School, Edmonds, OK in 1954. After graduation, Connie headed for the golden sunshine of California. She boarded a Greyhound bus and arrived in Los Angeles to live with her sister, Lois. Shortly thereafter, Connie has hired by the FBI as an administrative assistant. While at a beach party, Connie met the love of her life, Duane F. Cook. They married on January 28, 1956. Duane and Connie started their life together by leaving the sunshine behind and heading north to Anchorage, Alaska for Duane’s new job as pilot for Northern Consolidated Airlines. The couple welcomed their son Thomas into their lives on January 3, 1957. Daughter, Cathye, was born a few years later on May 1, 1960. The family had several adventures relocating from Duane’s new job as an air traffic controller. They moved from Alaska to Wake Island, then on to Maui, Hawaii, Pocatello, Idaho, eventually settling in Spokane, WA in 1967. Connie started her career again after her children were raised. She worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines until retiring in 1996. Her retirement was short-lived, however, as the U.S. Border Patrol requested her service as administrative assistant to the chief and deputy chief at the Spokane office. Connie retired permanently on February 24, 2001. Connie loved her family deeply and she enjoyed her final years relaxing at home with her beloved husband, visiting family and having coffee chats with friends. Connie and Duane were married for 56 wonderful years. Connie Sue Suthard Cook is survived by her husband Duane Cook, daughter, Cathye and son-in-law Jeff Bordwell; son, Thomas Cook; grandchildren, Mathew, Megan and Aaron; sister, Lois Coffelt and brother-in-law Hugh Coffelt; sister, Sharon Warsop; sister-in-law Loretta Suthard; sister-in-law Arlene Suthard; beloved nieces Kim Suthard, Barbara Rice and many more very much loved nieces and nephews. Her parents, James and Eleanor A. Suthard, sisters, Dorothy Hudson, Mary Halladay, and brothers, Bob and Rex Suthard, preceded her in death. The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to the caring staff of Hospice of Spokane. Remembrances may be made to Hospice of Spokane in honor of Connie.