Marion Ivey Cook, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, formerly of Wembley, AB, passed away on October 25, 2025, at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, at the age of 82 years.

Marion was born on May 5, 1943, in Grande Prairie, AB. She was raised on the family farm on the bank of the Wapiti River, south of Wembley. She moved to Edmonton, AB, where she received her Registered Nurse’s Aide certificate in May of 1962. She then relocated back to Grande Prairie, where she lived in residence and worked at the Swan Haven nursing home. She later began working at the Auxiliary Hospital.

Marion met her husband, Wallace Cook from Spirit River, AB, at a dance at Dimsdale Hall in October 1962, and they married in April 1963. They decided to grow their family right away with the addition of their son, Brian, in August 1964. During this time, Marion worked for a short while at Woolworths. When Dad was working for Borstad’s moving company, he and Mom would make many trips between the provinces with Brian along for the ride. They soon chose to grow the family again, and Brenda was their first baby girl three years later, in December 1967. A proud mom, Marion stayed home with the kids for a while until she started working at Central Jewellers. Marion and Wallace added their third child, their daughter, Lorraine, in 1970. They lived on the east side of Grande Prairie until 1977 and then moved to their beautiful acreage in Riverview Pines, which was their oasis for 48 years.

In 1981, Marion went back to school, where she studied accounting for a career change. This is when she started doing bookkeeping work for Totran and then Nalcan.

She began to miss her passion for caregiving and health aide, so she returned to home care nursing. Later, she worked as a driver for South Peace Disabled Transportation Society, for Ed and Irene Kriaski. Marion started doing the books for them and played a huge role in the growth of the charitable organization. She helped them transition from one Handi-Bus into six buses with a dispatching team that she managed for years. She was on the board of directors and won a provincial award of recognition for her work.

Marion was a three-time cancer survivor over a 20-year span. Her strength, courage and resilience were remarkable. She endured many health conditions head-on, not letting them get her down for long.

She was passionate about gardening, birds (especially hummingbirds), collecting, music, baking, canning, and her pets. She loved to play cards and games with friends and family. You were always welcome at Marion and Wallace’s home, whether they were expecting you or not. She was extremely creative with her talents. She crocheted beautiful items for years, decorated wedding cakes, crafted many amazing items, and was passionate about sewing for most of her life. Cooks Creations was a part of the Grande Prairie Farmers’ Market for 20 years. It was a huge part of her daily life, creating incredible home décor kitchen accent pieces, combined with Wallace’s woodworking.

Marion led with her heart, always putting others before herself. She never liked to be fussed over but always liked to fuss over others. Her witty (sometimes spicy) nature always kept everyone on their toes.

She will be sadly missed by her husband, Wallace; children Brian and Laurie Cook, Brenda and Ray Campbell, and Lorraine Edwards; grandchildren Charlene, Kelby, Katie, Trenton, Riley, Brianne, Austin, Kaleb, Alex, and Saige; great-grandchildren Tavin, Kara, Kayleigh, and Blake; and siblings Theodore Thomsen, Evelyn Thomsen, Louise Young, Betty Young, Shirly Barstad, Donna Thomsen, as well as their families.

Marion was predeceased by her father, Henry Thomsen; mother Ivey Thomsen; brothers John Thomsen, Ed Thomsen, and Johnny Thomsen; and sisters Lydia Wardell, Emily Hein, and Geraldine Simmons.

The family would like to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital for their care of Mom this past year, especially Dr. Christina Sereda. They would also like to thank the nursing care at Mackenzie Place.

The funeral service for Marion will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church. Following the service, a luncheon will be served at the church. Interment will take place at the Spring Creek Cemetery in the County of Grande Prairie (711001 Range Road 73).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Grande Prairie Farmers’ Market (e-transfers can be sent to: info@gpfarmersmarket.ca) or to the Canadian Cancer Society (https://cancer.ca/en/).