Charlene Gayle (Harlan) Cook was the second daughter born to Leon Vernon and Virgil Maude (McKinnis) Harlan. Her place of birth was Lamar, Prowers County, Colorado and she was born on April 14, 1945. There was only eighteen months of age between Gayle and older sister Shirley and they were often thought to be twins in their early years. Five years later, little sister Karen Lea completed the family. She was born May 2, 1950.

Gayle was what you would call a "Tom Boy"…she loved being outside, riding horses, playing with the dogs, working in the fields, etc. She didn't much enjoy cooking, cleaning and housework, so she left most of that up to Shirley. Gayle always tells the story that at recess at school one day she couldn't find Shirley anywhere…she got scared and ran the ½ block to Grandma McKinnis' house. She got in trouble at school for doing that but she was afraid without her sister she wouldn't get on the right bus to go home.

Gayle was a music lover…County, Rock & Roll, gospel and Big Band. She enjoyed listening, playing and most of all dancing to it all. Gayle was most proud to play her trumpet with her son Brad on the tenor sax at different talent shows and at church. She was honored to receive the John Phillips Sousa Music Award her senior year in 1963 and was thrilled 40 years later when her son, Brad, received the same award. Awesome!

Gayle was proud of her family, community, school and country. She thought it to be a true blessing to have had the same first grade teacher (Mrs. Hart) as her mother Virgil had 23 years earlier. Only in a small community could that happen. There have been three generations of Walsh High School alumni in the family, with the fourth generation beginning May 22 of this year when Christopher Cook graduates.

Gayle graduated from Walsh High School with the class of 1963…attended Lamar Community college and received an AA Degree in business Administration in 1965. It was during this time that Gayle realized how people from other areas were different from her. Here she was only an hour from home…she took pictures of her family…got more mail and wrote more letters than any other girls in the dorm. The other girls were just glad to be away from their families while Gayle kept her family close. Things are certainly different elsewhere. Walsh, Colorado, is a good place to grow up in.

Gayle and Erroll Cook had their first official date after a band and solo program. They went to see the movie, Hatari, starring John Wayne. Erroll was the perfect gentleman and when he gave Gayle her very own popcorn, she knew right then and there he was a keeper! Erroll and Gayle were married on June 6, 1965, at the Walsh Methodist Church.

The newlyweds spent the summer in Walsh and were so happy in the 10 x 55 foot brand new Belair trailer! Erroll worked that summer for his dad, Neil, and Gayle spent her time taking care of their new home and her new husband.

The couple moved that home to Lamar, Colorado, where Erroll attended Lamar Community college, majoring in Animal Reproduction before transferring to Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado. With their new home in tow, it was off to CSU. That same trailer was still home to them when their first son was born. Chad Darin Cook arrived on March 17, 1967. The trailer was eventually sold for more that it cost to begin with and the Cooks moved to a new home with some acreage off Cement Plant Road, north of Ft. Collins. This is when their second son, Brent Aaron, was born on August 4, 1970. Later the family upgraded to a nicer home on Moore Lane near the foothills where the "A" for Aggies is displayed. Next, they purchased property in Gill, Colorado. This is where third son, Brad Jared, was born on October 31, 1984. All three sons were delivered by Dr. M.T. DeYoung, Chief of Staff at Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital in Ft. Collins. A little funny thing…at her first visit in reference to being with child for a third time, Dr. DeYoung opened the door and said, "It is you…and you are here for what?" He thought for sure they had pulled the wrong chart. I guess plenty of years had passed since Brent was born (13 to be exact). NO MISTAKE…JUST A BLESSING FROM GOD! Erroll received his BS Degree in Animal Reproduction from Colorado State University in 1969 and was employed at what was respectfully named the "CSU Bull Farm" for 7 years.

Gayle and Erroll were hired by Achilles Cattle Company to promote bull semen on some very expensive Simmental bulls. During this time, they were able to travel to England, France and Switzerland to help select cattle to import to the US and Canada. That was an awesome adventure! Gayle had a hard time; however…everyone drinks wine all day long…wine was not her "cup of tea." Her favorite part of that trip was attending a yodeling festival and dancing under the stars in the Alps. Coming home was the VERY best part of the trip, however. God Bless the USA.

Gayle's working platform was many. She had the very best teacher with all her bookkeeping skills…her mother, Virgil. She worked during the summer with her folks at the Walsh Lumber Company. Later Gayle worked in the hospital office in Lamar…she really hated the old switchboard there. She also worked in the CSU office while Erroll was going to college. Later she kept books for Achilles Cattle Company, clerked many National Western Simmental Sales, Colorado Simmental Association Sales and Wild Wild West Sales. She served as CSA Secretary for six years putting out the CSA Newsletters to keep the members informed. She also enjoyed being secretary for two terms for the WHS Alumni Association. Of course, she also took care of the books for Cook Oil and the Cook cattle business Bridle Bit Simmentals.

Gayle worked side by side with Erroll in their livestock business…calving cows, checking heat cycles, etc. and was the official family photographer assistant in making noises to get the cattle to stand their ears up while their photos were being taken. Like many other farmer and rancher wives, she was "on call" to help everywhere she was needed. There was one thing she never concerted (mutually agreed with)…Erroll's most famous verb while working with the cattle…that word was ANTICIPATE! He would say, "Can't you anticipate where that cow is going to go?" "Yes, I can…wherever she wants!" Oh yes, the other famous line was, "You can't sort cattle with your hands in your pockets!"

The family returned home to Walsh in 1986 to purchase Cook Oil Company from Erroll's dad. Of course, their hundred head of Simmental cattle came with them. Over the years many improvements had been made to help service the Walsh and surrounding community as best as can be done. Gayle always took pride in her small town upbringing and loved having their three sons and families join them in the family business. Walsh is a great place to be from and a wonderful place to call home.

Gayle accepted the Lord as her personal Savior as a young woman in Ft. Collins. God's Grace!

(The above was written by Gayle sometime after being diagnosed with cancer in November 2008).

Following is the "Rest of the Story."

Gayle was the inspired instigator of the "Blast from the Past Band". It grew from 10 to 20 members since starting up in 2009. The group has played in the homecoming parades and in several talent programs since. They certainly missed Gayle's trumpeting skills when she was no longer able to play BUT she went to some of their practices anyway to support them.

In November of 2008 Gayle was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer after the initial ductal cancer diagnosis was quickly proven wrong. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most rare and worst type to have while the ductal cancer has the best cure rate. In true "Gayle fashion" she met the challenge head on taking all the recommended chemo, surgery, and radiation treatments. They drove thousands of miles to and from Amarillo, Texas, for treatments, checkups, etc. from December 2008 through November 2010. She handled the chemo better than most…she would drive down and the other family member would drive home. Things were looking really good until April 2010 when she started having worrisome symptoms that triggered more appointments in Amarillo. The cancer had splintered off into her brain stem cell…so this time, she had daily radiation 5 days a week and home on weekends from May 7 through June 16. Unfortunately, that reprieve did not last long either. The beastly cancer next showed up next on her spine. That required 14 more radiation treatments and an extended time in the hospital. She left the Stanton County Hospital where she had been since November 10 and came home at last on December 20, 2010.

Thanks to the dedicated "loving nursing care" provided by Erroll, her family, and the Baca County Home Health/Hospice personnel, she was able to remain home until the end. She was always positive, retained her sense of humor, was so thankful and appreciative for all the love and support from family and friends and never ever complained. She was completely at peace with her lot.

Gayle lost her valiant battle and left this earth for a better place at 6:07 a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2011, surrounded by her loving family at home, 28065 County Road 45, the former home of her parents.

She leaves to mourn her passing her loving and attentive husband of over 45 years, Erroll; sons and their families…Chad, Kristi, Christopher, Darin and Austin; Brent, Heather, Montana and Dakota, and her youngest Brad; mother Virgil Harlan; sisters Shirley and husband Bill Stoner and Karen McCall; father-in-law, Neil Cook; brother-in-law and family Vaughn, Jill, Bailey and Jamie; Gwen Cook and nieces Shannon Cook and Brandi and Bart Herndon & great-niece Brynna and a host of friends and relatives.

She attended the Walsh Baptist Church. Burial will be at the Walsh Cemetery. She has requested that memorial donations be made to the Walsh Alumni Association, PO Box 184 Walsh, CO 81090.