Irena "Kat" Cook - Davis

Irena G. Cook Davis “Kat” 1921-2013 Irena Cook Davis passed away on June 1, 2013 at the age of 91 years. Born on September 4, 1921, she was the daughter of James Harvey Cook and Serena Whitewater Cook. She grew up in the Brushy Mountain area, east of Muskogee, and attended the Brushy Mountain School. Early in her childhood, her siblings labeled her with the nickname of “Kat”, and she was always known as Aunt Kat to her family. Following her elementary education, “Kat” attended high school at the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School for girls in Chilocco, Kansas where she graduated with the class of 1939. Following her high school graduation, “Kat” returned to Muskogee and enrolled in nursing school. She graduated from the Muskogee General Hospital School of Nursing on March 17, 1943, following 3 years of intense training under Edna M. Rockefeller, Director of Nursing. Immediately upon graduation from nursing school, “Kat” enlisted in the U.S. Navy where she attended officers training, and was commissioned as an Ensign following basic training at Farragut, Idaho. During WWII, “Kat” was stationed at several Naval hospitals including Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA., O’ahu and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and served on hospital transport ships caring for the wounded sailors returning from the Pacific theater. She was extremely proud of her service in the Navy obtaining the rank of LTjg. Following her military service, she continued her education by obtaining a Masters of Arts Degree from the George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, and received certification in psychiatric nursing from the University of Colorado. “Kat” taught and worked at the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital, New York, until she moved to Albuquerque, NM, where she was employed with the State Dept. of Health. Following the death of her aunt, Minnie Manney Head, in 1981, who helped raise her after her mother’s death, she returned to the family farm near Brushy Mountain. “Kat” resided on the same farm where she was born and remained there until her health declined and then moved to the home of her nephew, Jimmy R. Cook and his wife, Susan in Muskogee, who provided her with care, comfort, and love during her final days. “Kat” was preceded in death by her parents, James Harvey Cook and Serena Whitewater Cook; her sisters, Alta Cook and Georgia Hunnicutt; her brothers, Floyd Mode, Roy Mode, Jacob Cook, and Jim Cook. She is survived by her sister, Serena Hinson of Little Rock, Arkansas; her nephews, Jeep Hunnicutt of Warner, Oklahoma, Jimmy R. Cook, R. Jay Cook , both of Muskogee, Cleveland Warrick of Little Rock, and Sidney Hunnicutt of Lavada, Arkansas; her two special friends, Corina Wolfe of Muskogee and Ann Fielder of Tucson, Arizona. Eternally proud of her role as a Naval Nurse during WWII, she always expressed the desire to reside forever with her fellow veterans of that war and will be interred with full military honors in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma at 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2013 with Forrest Kirk, Veterans Administration Chaplain, officiating.

Irena "Kat" Cook - Davis

September 4, 1921 - June 1, 2013