Linda Kay Cook

As told by Linda-

“I was born Linda Kay Mountford in Sulphur, OK to parents Josephine Taylor Mountford and Wilkes DeLeeuw Mountford. I had an older sister, Margaret “Anne”, 22 months older than me.

My entire childhood was spent growing up in Sulphur. My childhood was happy, normal and uneventful. Daddy worked as a Texaco Consignee all of his life. Mother was always a homemaker, and a good one, except the year I was in 9th grade, when she taught math at the high school. I graduated from Sulphur High School in 1956.

I enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK for the fall term. There I met Bob. Bob and I started dating some during the 2nd semester. Our dates were mainly attending Southeastern’s basketball games; they were in the national finals that year. We saw every home game and listened to the out-of-town games on the radio. Neither of us had a car.

Dorm life was fun. I made many life-long friendships. I was fortunate not to have to work during my college years. Bob and I continued to date the next 2 years, and married August 16, 1959 in Sulphur. We returned to Southeastern to finish our senior year. We rented half of an upstairs of a house for $50.00 a month. I finished my school requirements at the end of the 1st semester. I went to work as the Women’s Editor at the Durant Daily Newspaper for $140 a month. When Bob finished his last semester, we went through the graduation ceremony together in May of 1960.

After graduation, Bob and I came to Hurst, TX to teach. Bob would teach art at Hurst Junior High, and I, 2nd grade at a new school, Bellaire Elementary, which wasn’t quite finished yet. We had one car, a Corvair. I usually took Bob to school and picked him up on my way home. Our starting salary was $3,700 a year.

Mainly because there were no apartments, we bought a brand new house on Vicki Place, sitting on a lot of sandburs and Johnson grass. There were no restaurants in the Hurst area. It was just starting to grow due to Bell Helicopter. Bellaire had 6 classrooms, grades 1-6. The classes were large. I had nearly 40 children in my class. There were no art, music or PE teachers, no duty-free lunch times or planning periods and no air conditioning. We were required to wear dresses and hose. No socks or pants were permitted. On a snowy day, I wore socks over my hose to school but had to remove them once in the building.

History was made when President Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963. I can remember being told about it while outside at recess. We did not tell our classes before they were dismissed for the day. We thought it was best that their parents talk to them about it.

I continued to teach until January 1964. A teacher’s resignation was due immediately when it was learned she was pregnant. Teri Jo was born on May 14, 1964.  At this time I became a stay-at-home mom, wondering how we were going to make it on one teacher’s salary. But we did. Carol Ann was born on May 3, 1969. I continued not to work until she entered the 1st grade.

In 1976 I returned to Bellaire Elementary not as a teacher, but as a kindergarten teacher assistant. I did not want to take away from time at home- after school or at night- with the family. I enjoyed that and continued as a teacher’s assistant for 22 years. I retired in May 1998.”

While all of this is the story of Linda’s life up until retirement, it is not the story of her heart. She loved her family and friends unconditionally, and the rest of her life was filled with sharing that love with them; especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Bob; Daughters, Teri Pate and partner Danny Johnson, Carol Lowery and husband Matt; Granddaughter, Taylor Pate and partner Irwin Cortes, Grandson, Max Lowery, Granddaughter, Ella Lowery; Great-grandsons, Rey and Noah Cortes; numerous other extended family members, and loving friends.