Obituary of Sharon Rose Cook

Cook, Sharon Rose (nee Stewart) - After living a full life, in her 82nd year, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sharon Cook of Pleasant Valley, Pictou County, Nova Scotia.  Sharon passed away surrounded by loved ones on March 8, 2025 at Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow.  She passed away on International Women’s Day, which was fitting as she was an incredible role model.

Born in Nuttby Mountain, Colchester County, Sharon was the fourth of ten children born to the late Robert and Daisy Stewart.  She grew up in Earltown, leaving to work at Stanfield’s in Truro at 16 years old, alongside her sisters Dorothy and Blanche.   She was on the Stanfield’s Baseball & Tug of War teams, where her competitive nature became evident.

In 1959, she met her husband Lawson Cook and they married in 1961.  They had a “handful of children” (5); starting their lives in Salt Springs and later residing in Pleasant Valley.

Sharon loved camping, making up Lawson’s lunchbox, travelling across the country to visit family and friends and was always ready for a good conversation about politics (as long as you were a Conservative). She carried forward that competitive nature in sports and joined a Bowling team, dragging all 5 kids with her to the alley each week.   When her oldest was 15 years old and youngest was 5, she went to Nova Scotia Community College for Business Administration and graduated with honours.   She then worked side by side with Lawson for 45 years at Lawson Cook Contracting Limited, later renamed to Maritime Tractor Repairs.   Even though the company was his namesake, we all know who the real “boss” was.   She was a woman of faith, a lifelong member of St Luke’s United Church, proudly served as a UCW and was always eager to help in all fundraising activities.  Sharon loved to dance, and her favorite country music singer was Hank Williams Sr., much to her children’s dislike.  Sharon loved a good debate, in which she rarely lost thanks to her knowledge of facts, capacity for numbers, or people would ultimately give up.   She loved her kids until her grandchildren arrived, and if she had a visit from a fur baby, she would ignore the grandchildren.

Sharon was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Daisy Stewart, her husband Lawson Cook, sister Blanche Cook, and other beloved in-laws.

Sharon is survived by her loving family Mike (Kate), Innisfil ON; Rick (Lisa), Greenhill NS; Janet, Westville NS; Lisa (Steve), Bradford ON; and Randy (Dawn), Westville NS; grandchildren Ryan, Shawn, Chalane, Nickolas, Rhiannon, Morgan, Devin, Cameron, Avery, Ronin and Ally; great grandchildren Skye, Shawn, Kai and Kayde; siblings, Dorothy Works, Alex Stewart, Evelyn Blenkhorn, Foster Stewart, Shirley Marshall, June Shipley, Bobby Stewart, David Stewart along with Lawson’s brothers Charlie, James, and Kenneth; and too many nieces and nephews to count.   Her favourite fur babies: Fleagle, Max, Sam, Cat, Vicki, Mr. Simpson, Ziggy, Roxy, Penny, Molly, Chester & Nash.

A visitation will be held in her honour at Eagles Funeral Home in Westville, NS on March 21st from 3 to 6pm with a service held at St. Luke’s United Church, Salt Springs on March 22nd at 11:00am, followed by a private family burial at The Falls Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Jim Webber-Cook, Dr. McLean, Dr. Farrell, the Palliative, VON & Continuing Care Unit (Aberdeen Hospital), VitalAire Healthcare, and Cindy Roy for all of their kindness, support and exceptional care of our little spitfire angel.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the UCW of Salt Springs or the Nova Scotia SPCA.