1963
K.
2015
K. Elaine Cook
June 25, 1963 — September 7, 2015
K. Elaine Cook
Kathryn Elaine Cook,52, was taken from us on September 7, 2015. She was born on June 25, 1963. Open visitation will be held at 10:00 am, with memorial services following at 11am, on Monday, September 14 at Johnson County Funeral Chapel.
As a child, Kathy (as she was then called) attended Shawnee Mission South High School and graduated in 1981. There she was active in band, where she enjoyed playing the French Horn, the pep club and the pom-pom squad. It was in high school that she really had her first opportunity to travel internationally. She went to France and later a trip with the FSA club to Italy, Spain and Portugal. She attended the University of Kansas where she began using her middle name Elaine. She first graduated in 1985 with a BA in History and Art History. Upon completion of that degree she went on to get her BS in Geology in 1988 which formed the basis of her career in environmental clean-up.
Her love of art history was evident as she persuaded her many friends to share her love of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In particular her favorite was always the collection of Chinese art. It helped inspire her love of dragons, though most of her personal collection of dragons is actually from the Renaissance Festival vendors. She held an annual pass for the Renaissance Festival during the years she lived in the area.
In 1990, Elaine moved to California for her job. She always hated Kansas winters and the cold, so she loved the weather in the Los Angeles area. It was in California that she started working part-time at a book store. Even when she moved back to Kansas in 1996 she continued this work. She was instrumental in forming a local book club for those interested in science fiction and fantasy. Even after the book store closed, the club continued on. Many members joined because of an invitation from Elaine and stayed because of the friendships.
Elaine is preceded in death by her grandparents. She is survived by her parents; David and Emma Cook, her sister Cynthia, brother-in-law Harold Kraus, and her nephew Thomas and niece Lena.
o In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and/or the KU Cancer Center. www.kucancercenter.org
Kathryn Elaine Cook,52, was taken from us on September 7, 2015. She was born on June 25, 1963. Open visitation will be held at 10:00 am, with memorial services following at 11am, on Monday, September 14 at Johnson County Funeral Chapel.
As a child, Kathy (as she was then called) attended Shawnee Mission South High School and graduated in 1981. There she was active in band, where she enjoyed playing the French Horn, the pep club and the pom-pom squad. It was in high school that she really had her first opportunity to travel internationally. She went to France and later a trip with the FSA club to Italy, Spain and Portugal. She attended the University of Kansas where she began using her middle name Elaine. She first graduated in 1985 with a BA in History and Art History. Upon completion of that degree she went on to get her BS in Geology in 1988 which formed the basis of her career in environmental clean-up.
Her love of art history was evident as she persuaded her many friends to share her love of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In particular her favorite was always the collection of Chinese art. It helped inspire her love of dragons, though most of her personal collection of dragons is actually from the Renaissance Festival vendors. She held an annual pass for the Renaissance Festival during the years she lived in the area.
In 1990, Elaine moved to California for her job. She always hated Kansas winters and the cold, so she loved the weather in the Los Angeles area. It was in California that she started working part-time at a book store. Even when she moved back to Kansas in 1996 she continued this work. She was instrumental in forming a local book club for those interested in science fiction and fantasy. Even after the book store closed, the club continued on. Many members joined because of an invitation from Elaine and stayed because of the friendships.
Elaine is preceded in death by her grandparents. She is survived by her parents; David and Emma Cook, her sister Cynthia, brother-in-law Harold Kraus, and her nephew Thomas and niece Lena.
o In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and/or the KU Cancer Center. www.kucancercenter.org
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