Lois Cook

Lois Marie Hyer Cook

Lois Marie Hyer Cook was born December 16, 1929 in Logan, Utah to Saul E. and Gladys C. Hyer.  She passed away on August 29, 2014 at home in Layton.

Lois grew up on a farm in Lewiston, Utah.  She often told her children stories of the fun and hard work she enjoyed on the farm.  She passed this love of hard work and outdoor fun to her children.  After she graduated from North Cache High School she continued on to Utah State Agricultural College (USU).  She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and graduated with a degree in interior design.  Lois continued to be active as a USU Alumni.

After college, Lois moved to Ogden and met Richard (Dick) Cook.  They met at Lindquist Mortuary in Ogden where Lois was renting an apartment.  They were married in Logan Utah on July 6, 1954.  They made their home in Layton, Utah where they raised four children – Susan (William) Waterhouse, Jeffrey (Cherie) Cook, Roger (Nan) Cook, and Martha (Ronney) Arndt.  She and Dick raised their children to love hard work, honesty, and trying new things.

Lois was a teacher of every age from elementary to college.  Upon graduating from college she taught third grade at Hopkins Elementary in Ogden.  After taking time off to raise her family she returned to teaching and taught at the  junior high and high school level.  She eventually started working at Layton High School where she taught English and Humanities for many years.  She was proud of starting the Humanities Program and the Writing Lab at Layton High School.  After she retired from teaching, she taught Art History at Weber State University for many years.

Dick and Lois were officers for Kays Creek Irrigation Company for many years.  Kays Creek supplies irrigation water to farmers and residential customers.  After Dick passed away Lois continued in that role.  She enjoyed working with the local farmers and the other officers.

Volunteering was very important to her.  She did volunteer work for the LDS church for over 45 years.    She was a researcher at the LDS Church Museum and for the Priesthood Department at the LDS Church Office Building.  She also served as a docent at The Beehive House.   Lois served in many capacities within her ward, but her favorite calling was always as a teacher.  Her last calling was as a Gospel Doctrine teacher.  She taught that class for over 5 years.  Another favorite calling of hers was as a Sunday school teacher for the youth.  She also served as a temple worker in the Toronto Temple.   In the community she volunteered with the Layton Arts Council, the Layton History Museum and at Davis Hospital.  She also volunteered as a court appointed advocate and taught school in the prison system.

Lois was very talented in many ways.  She taught herself many crafts including stained glass, knitting and fabric collages.  She loved to sew beautiful clothing for herself and her children.   She loved to read, golf, and attend the symphony.  She was a member of a number of clubs with her friends including the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, the Belletristic Literary Club, and Bridge club.

She and Dick were ardent art collectors.  She loved working in her garden and growing beautiful flowers. She loved to learn about other cultures, hosting many foreign exchange students.  She enjoyed traveling around the world and visited dozens of countries on all continents except Antarctica.

She is survived by her sister Bernice McCowin, her brother Charles Hyer, her children, 14 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Dick and two sisters; Pauline Buehler and Marjorie Gardner.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd. Friends may visit with family from 6-8 Friday and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 N. Fairfield Road.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the LDS church Perpetual Education Fund or the Davis Arts Council.