Imogene Raiford Cook

Imogene Raiford Cook, better known to her family as Mom or Granny, went to be with the Lord, her husband, Buck, and two of her granddaughters, Amanda McClellan and Brooke Selby, on Friday night, January 24, 2014.

Imogene was born on the first day of Spring in 1925 to Lola Hubert Raiford & Altha Mae Barrick Raiford. She married Buck Cook on January 23, 1945. She and Buck had 3 intelligent and beautiful daughters, Judith C. Strother, Marilyn Joy Gammon, and Susan Kay Dunn. Her passion for the past 44 plus years has been her grandchildren, Jodi, Megan, and Mica Strother, Steve and Amanda (deceased) McClellan, and Courtney and Brooke (deceased) Selby. For the past 22 plus years she has doted on her great-grandchildren, Jake Strother, Buck Gilbert, Wyatt Gilbert, and Rhett Gilbert, born to Jodi, Hannah Dibble and Drew Dibble born to Megan, Eli Hicks born to Mica, and Jaden McClellan and Tennessee McClellan children of Steve. They took them on trips and provided them with 4 wheelers, motorcycles, and trailers full of cotton to play in on the farm.

Imogene and Buck were very successful farmers in Desha county before they retired and moved to Mountain Home. As secretary/treasurer of Buck Cook, Inc., Imogene wore many hats insuring that she carried her part of the load as a help to Buck in their efforts to farm successfully year after year. Once on a tax audit, the auditor asked Imogene what she did as a farmer. She immediately set out her role in their farming operation. The auditor asked no more questions of Ms. Imogene.

In addition to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her farming, she was very active in Kelso Baptist Church for over 50 years singing in the choir and preparing meals for fellowships and visiting ministers. She was also President and Treasurer of the Kelso Cemetery for 38 years. Taking care of the cemetery was such a big part of her life that she often took her grandchildren to the cemetery to tell them all about who was buried where and what had happened to them, both the good and the bad, some relatives and some non-relatives. Granny would carry a picnic basket and off they would go for an afternoon of fun and enlightenment! She and Buck loved to travel and their many trips included England, Canada, Mexico and 3 trips to Hawaii. They once took all their daughters, their sons-in-law, and all 7 grandchildren on a trip to Acapulco, Mexico. In groups of 2 or 3 each trip, they made several thrilling treks to Disney World. As a finale to that adventure, all grandchildren were left with the sons-in-law and Buck and Imogene took their 3 grown daughters to Disney World. Their last big trip was a Caribbean cruise with their 3 daughters and their sons-in-law.

Imogene was truly a woman who loved her family and her church. She lived life to the fullest. She will be missed by her family and friends. She will be remembered for her love of life, love of family and her sense of humor.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice House at Hospice of the Ozarks or Good Samaritan in Mountain Home, AR.

The funeral will be at Kirby and Family Funeral & Cremation on Monday at 6 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. until service time. The interment will be at Kelso Cemetery on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.