Christina H. Hagethorn
October 26, 1915 - October 10, 2005
Obituary
Died at home October 10, 16 days short of her 90th birthday. Daughter of Fredrick A. Cook and Barbara R. Schloss Cook. Born 1915 in Marshall County, Iowa. Christina was the eldest of nine siblings all of whom resided on a farm near Rhoades, Iowa. She is survived by her husband at their home in SeaTac, Washington., her son, Larry and wife Dolores of Aberdeen, WA; brother Paul Cook and wife Colleen at the family farm; sisters, Marjorie Ford of Urbandale, Iowa; LeOta Vanderpool and husband Randall of Altoona, Iowa; LuEtta Russell and husband Larry of Des Moines, Iowa and Helen Shepard of Johnston, Iowa. Christina was preceded in death by brothers, Melvin, LeRoy and Leonard Cook. Prior to moving to Washington State in 1959, Christina was a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, transferring her membership to Steel Lake Presbyterian Church in Federal Way in the early 1960’s, she later served as deacon. She also originated a women’s sewing group, “Gleaners”, whose primary mission was to generate robes and coverings for people in need. April 18, 1953, Christina was initiated into the Order of the Estern Star, Auburn Chapter #499, Des Moines, Iowa. Being active as a loyal sister, she served as Worthy Matron of the Des Moines, Washington, Juanita Chapter #187, in 1971-72. With a depression era bent, one of Christina’s major delights was to trudge the shopping isles looking for “2 fors” and coupon deals. The Lord granted Christina’s last wish on earth – to die in her own home. There will be a memorial service at Steel lake Presbyterian Church, Federal Way, Washington. Dr. Chet B. Gean officiating and Eastern Star Juanita Chapter#187, Des Moines, Washington participating. Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 1:00 PM
Christina,we will miss you. Roy & Dianna
I am a distant cousin of Howard’s. My family and I would like to express our sincere sympathy to Christina’s family. Although I never had the opportunity to meet Christina, she sounds like she was a wonderful person. Howard is a nephew of my late grandmother, Edna Chumbley Liggett from Collins, IA. My mother, Beverly Liggett Wierson of Nevada, IA, formerly of Huxley, IA, recently received a letter in a Christmas card from Howard’s sister, Edna Frogge, telling her of Christina’s passing. Cousin Edna has always been so good at keeping mom informed of updates of our Washington state Chumbley relatives. Once again our sympathy to Christina’s family.
I have many fond memories growing up of Aunt Tina coming to Des Moines to visit and how excited mom LuEtta would get. I especially remember the countless letters that were exchanged between mom and Aunt Tina, every week.
I also remember the great “trade” Aunt Tina and I made. In high school, I made a hook rug, Japanese style, and gave it to Aunt Tina because she liked it so well. It wasn’t long afterward, she surprised me with a set of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls she made which sat on my bed for many years. I’ll always remember what a great seamstress she was. Aunt Tina was very generous with her skill and work with the needle and thread—it was her hallmark.
Boyd and I visited Aunt Tina and Uncle Howard a couple of times while passing through Seattle. We were both treated like royalty and made to feel at home with them. I couldn’t believe it, after all these years, she still had that rug hanging in the den of their home–it made me feel like a true presence of myself had existed there!
We’re very sadden by the passing of our beloved aunt. Someone who always made thousands of miles apart feel so close.
Patty Nansel
I always will remember the good times we had at your house and on the farm, holidays, and the good conversations we had on the phone.
How do I count the memories of Aunt Tina? There are so many and all a favorite from being taken to Sunday school in Des Monies to sleeping on the patio in Washington waking up to breakfast cooking. Goodby Aunt Tina and God bless you.
I will always remember my older sister, Christina as the first on I stayed with when I started on my own. She was a great help. Also in later years visiting her and her family in Seattle, They took us to all the great places in Washington. God Bless her and the loved ones she left behind.
You will be sadly missed but my memories of all the Holiday dinners and other times will not be forgotten.
I fondly remember Aunt Christina’s trips to Iowa as a boy growing up.
I remember aunt Tina as the big sister to my mother and my aunts, she loved us all. Our trip to WA. to see her and uncle Howard will always be remembered.
I’ll always remember picking berries, dern them birds on the Ferry to BC to see the gardens, beautiful Lake Crescent, and searching for pebbles on the Pacific NW Coast. All my love, Annie
I’ll remember walking with Aunt Christina through her lovely rose gardens and admiring her flowers. In the summer when I would visit, she always had fresh cut bouquets of roses around the house. I can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a dog; she loved her dogs. Maybe a short time would go by after one dog passed away, but before long she would have another one–usually a dachshund. After her move to SeaTac, she made it a priority to come to Iowa on a regular basis to visit family and friends. It was such a “big event” in my life when I knew Aunt Christina was coming to Iowa to visit us. She was absolutely the center of family attention, and her visit always seemed too short. When I was old enough, I took my first plane trip to spend several summer vacations with her and Uncle Howard. I was treated like a privileged character– being taken to the big city of Seattle, visiting Mt Rainier Natl Park, being a church visitor at Sunday services, going for walks through the woods for our daily exercise…After I was married we continued our back-and-forth visits and correspondence with one another. She is in my thoughts in so many of my everyday activities because she was so grounded in everyday life. She will forever be my true friend and mentor.