Mary Lou Kent

MARY LOU COOK KENT

May 11, 1927 – October 28, 2017

Mount Vernon

She answered to many names – Mary Lou, Mary, Cookie, Mom, Aunt Mary Lou, Momma Lou, MILK (Mother-in-law Kent), Meez, Great Mary and Mother Mary. She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to John and

Cecile Cook. She grew up in a close-knit family that

included brothers, Lee and Jim; her grandparents; aunts and uncles; and cousins, including her cousin Elaine, with whom she shared a birthday.

She spent many summers with her paternal grandmother in Arkansas. There she met the love of her life, Dan. She always said she married him for his mother, but we knew better. They married after the war and

began married life in Cedar Rapids. Daughter Karen was born and then Nancie followed. Daughter Patty was born after they moved to a farm in Mount Vernon. They lived there until they moved to Arizona in the early 1980s.

Her loving family includes her brother, Lee Hausler; her children, Marlin aka Smitty (Karen) Smith, Nancie Kent and Mike Young, Patricia and Bill Arneson and Cyndi and Bruce Arneson; grandchildren, Sage and

Jason Bast, Luke and Jonnie Smith, Matt Arneson and Andrea and Timmon Petersen; great-grandchildren,

Isabel and Eli Bast, Levi, Charlee and Bella Arneson, Noah Carson Lund and Aubrey Smith, Fisher and Elliot Petersen and Mason Young; her Hausler and England nieces and nephews and their families; and her dear friend, Mary Lee Wallace.

Per her wishes, burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the ALS Association, Arizona Chapter (360 E. Coronado Rd., Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ 85004); Hospice of the Valley (1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014) or Arizona PBS (555 N. Central Ave., Suite 500, Phoenix, AZ 85004).