Mary Cooke

Mary Jo Cooke, 61, passed away Friday, May 30, 2014 at a Topeka Hospital. She was born January 6, 1953 at Wamego, the daughter of Walter and Rosanna Shields Flach. She grew up in the Paxico community and graduated from Paxico High School in 1971. Mary Jo attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia. Mary Jo worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield for 34 years before her retirement. After retiring she was a fulltime grannie for her grandchildren Ethan and Adrian. Mary Jo was an avid University of Kansas fan and was a passionate newspaper reader. Her day wasn't complete until the papers were read. She was a loving and caring mother to everyone. She was preceded in death by her mother, Rosie on April 29, 2011 On April 30, 1983 she was united in marriage to Harley R. Cooke at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newbury. He survives of the home. Other survivors include her son, Harley Cooke, Jr., Topeka; twin daughters, Jennifer and Sharon Cooke, Topeka; her father, Walter Flach, Paxico; two brothers, Bill (Julia) Flach, Paxico and Pat (Debbie) Flach, St. Maries, ID; two sisters, Marsha (Jim) Seematter, Hoyt and Geralyn (Keith) Boyer Wamego; her grandchildren, Ethan and Adrian Stone, Topeka and many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newbury. Interment will be at 5:00 P.M. Wednesday at Prairie Home Cemetery, Topeka. Mary Jo will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church where there will be a rosary recited at 7:00. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.