Nada Cooke

Lake Junaluska, Nada Garber Cooke, age 72, of 201 Liberty Drive, died Monday, November 17, 2008 at Mission Hospital. She was a native of Waynesboro, VA and had resided in Haywood County since 1969. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Daniel and Gladys Wimmer Garber. Nada attended high school in Richmond, VA and went to Louisburg College, Louisburg, NC. She received a BS degree at Greensboro College and a Masters Degree and EdS degree at Western Carolina University. She was a dual recipient of Haywood County Teacher of the Year and advanced to the regional Teacher of the Year. Nada was past president of NCAE and International Reading Association and was a lead teacher at Waynesville Middle School. She retired from the Haywood County School System with 30 years service. She enjoyed gardening, reading, attending symphonies, participating in church choirs, relaxing on her porch and spending time with her family. Nada was a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church of Asheville. She is survived by a daughter, Laura Rathbone, and her husband, Tony of Waynesville; son, Matthew Cooke and his wife, April of Asheville; sister, Gloria Harris, and her husband, Wesley of Washington, VA; brother, David Garber of Waynesville; three grandchildren, Rachel and Zachary Rathbone and Justin Cooke and three nephews. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2008 at the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Alan Mears officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Haywood County Schools Foundation, 1230 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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