Marjorie Jo (Rogers) Cook

The Life and Joy of Marjorie Jo (Rogers) Cook

Marjorie's birth was a joy to her parents, Virgil C. Rogers and Betty Jo Albright. She joined the family as the third child and second daughter. Gary Rogers was the first born followed by his sister Sue-Ann. After Marjorie came another sister, Cathy Rogers. 

Marjorie was born 9 June 1944 in South Gate, Los Angeles, California and had a very healthy, family-oriented childhood growing up very active in 4-H activities wherein she had many animal-oriented experiences such as training seeing eye dogs for the blind, raising and showing sheep and hogs in the county fairs; displaying and earning ribbons for her talents in canning, sewing and baking. She held several leadership positions in her local 4-H programs as she made many close friendships where her open and beautiful smile and a great sense of empathy for others. 

She was a very self-effacing sort or personality and always preferred supportive, hardworking roles if the assiduously avoided the limelight or credit. However, she would not shrink from leadership roles if the were thrust upon her. She was always the first to arrive to set up and the last to leave after the clean-up.

She graduated from Simi Valley High School and later from Chico College in California with a degree in Home Economics. 

Her 4-H experience set her up for her decision to sign up for the United States Peace Corps which had been organized by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. This government program encouraged young people to dedicate two years of their life plus a training period in service to underdeveloped countries. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" were words that resonated with her. She often commented later that she had a strong impulse to sign up even though such a bold step was not in her DNA. Looking back several years later, she came to realize that the Peace Corps was part of her Heavenly Father's plan for her eternal joy and eternal relationships. 

She found herself, as of August of 1966, in a 4-H focused Peace Corps agriculture group made up of volunteers with degrees in dairy, farming and 4-H experience and leadership. This group was made to order for Marjorie, and they were designated to train and then serve in the Agriculture Service in El Salvador, Central America for two years in the country. The Peace Corps provided a monthly stipend for housing and food, etc. of $250 a month which was enough to cover these items for basic housing in a boarding home and a hot plate to cook or warm up food. Marjorie was able to save money each month from this small stipend that could then use to help the locals she worked with and buy program items for the kids in her local 4-H club.

On August 1, 1966 she arrived for training in Norman, Oklahoma at the University of Oklahoma for training that ended about the middle of September and then arrived in-country of El Salvador to serve her temporal mission in the little town of San Martin, and served with great joy the local housewives and youth of her village until November of 1969 when she flew back to Chico, California.

On that same August 1, 1966, she met her soul mate-to-be, Charlie Cook, who had arrived at the same time and place to meet her and realize she was the one. The hand of Heavenly Father was apparent in this meeting as Charlie had been born on one side of USA in New York and Marjorie had been born on the other side of the USA in California. They dated throughout the three months of training and the subsequent two years of service in El Salvador culminating in October 1968 as Charlie proposed to Marjorie on a park bench in San Salvador. She married Charlie in the Presbyterian Church in Oroville, California on May 31, 1969. They both joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in June of 1969 and were sealed in the Mesa Temple in Mesa, AZ for time and all eternity in December of 1969.

Marjorie and Charlie served five service missions once Charlie retires from teaching: Brownsville, Texas where she proselyted through scouting; followed by a mission to Ithaca, New York with the Church Educational System (CES) as the upper New York Institute Directors; a mission to Corpus Christi, Texas working for CES again; then a mission to Belleview, Washington to so the same and finally a hometown mission in Oro Valley, Arizona with CES. She loved all of them and all the Young Single Adults especially with whom she had a great affinity. She just radiated joy and love which they quickly responded to.

Margie's husband, Charlie and her three children Lorin C. Cook, Jean Marie Kartchner and James Robert Cook are all sealed to her and survive her death along with eleven grandchildren who loved and admired her for her compassion, devotion and kindness.

She is also survived by her older brother Gary Rogers, her younger sister, Cathy Rogers who reside in California and Utah respectively along with several beloved nieces and nephews.

Charity for all was her hallmark and joy, fun, service are all part of her eternal legacy to both family and friends where she served.

She served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in many capacities of leadership and teaching came to known by one and all for her open and loving smile and sincere care and concern for each of them.

She is already missed, but her serving, smiling, humble joy is her legacy to all of her friends and descendants which will serve them as a guiding light for generations to come. 

Funeral Service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 640 West Patton St. (Historic Hwy 80), St. David, AZ. Viewing at 9:00am, funeral at 10:00am and burial to follow at St. David Cemetery.

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