Pearl Harwell Cook

Pearl was born March 15, 1927 in Crestview, Florida to Jim and Mary Bounds Harwell. At age seven, the family moved to Quitman, Mississippi where she graduated high school in 1945. Pearl earned a bachelors degree in Elementary Education from University of Southern Mississippi in 1950, but her teaching career began before that, at age 19 in the small, rural community of Carmichael, Mississippi. Pearl spent five years either going to school or teaching school to make enough money to return to her college studies. Upon graduation Pearl moved to Texas when she was recruited to teach for Fort Worth ISD at Circle Park Elementary. She later earned a masters degree in Special Education from the University of North Texas. Pearl taught a little redheaded boy in one of her first classrooms and decided she wanted a little redheaded boy of her own. Her teacher friends introduced her to a fellow Mississipian and redhead, Manning Cook. On August 19, 1952, Pearl and Manning married and later had three children, Manning Vandiver “Van” Cook II, Dorrie Cook Hall and Barbara Beth “B.B.” Cook Stotts, all brunettes. The Cooks moved to Saginaw, Texas in 1965. Pearl was a member of Saginaw United Methodist Church and was active in Girl Scouts, Lake Worth Garden Club, Texas Extension Education Association, and EMS-ISD Retired Teachers Association. In 1997 Pearl ended her teaching career at Justin Elementary in Northwest ISD. Pearl’s love of learning was fostered in numerous continuing education courses at Tarrant County College. In addition, she enjoyed playing bridge, reading, art, music, gardening, the outdoors, bike riding, swimming and traveling abroad. She was devoted to her family and especially loved being a grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her parents Jim and Mary Harwell, four brothers, James Harwell, Bobby Harwell, Harold Harwell and Martin Harwell, and one sister, Mary Harwell, as well as her son, Van Cook.

She is survived by her husband Manning and two daughters Dorrie Hall (Keith) of Trophy Club, TX and B.B. Stotts (Jeff) of Pittsburg, KS, one sister Barbara Pierce (Max) of Hattiesburg, MS, sister-in-law Pauline Harwell of Shubuta, MS, brother-in-laws Stan Adams of Rush, CO and Jack Adams (Debra) of Cedar Park, TX. Pearl was very proud of her four grandchildren Taylor Hall of Washington, D.C., Katelin Hall of Chicago, IL, Madison Stotts of Pittsburg, KS and Avery Stotts of Pittsburg, KS, along with many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be given to Pearl Cook Garden Fund at Saginaw UMC, 209 S. Bluebonnet Drive, Saginaw, TX 76179.