Juanita Fae Cook
December 30, 1926 - October 5, 2021
Obituary
Juanita “Nita” Fae Cook was born December 30, 1926, in Nampa, Idaho to Merton Duane and Hannah Rozina (Bartholow) Eastly. She was the youngest of 11 children. Nita passed away on October 5, 2021 at her home in Kent, Washington at the age of 94 years.
When Nita was born, she was not breathing. The doctor set her aside and said that she was not going to make it. The neighbor lady who had revived piglets, took Nita to the drain board, and dunked her in alternating cold and warm water until she started breathing. Maybe this is what began her resilience in life.
When Nita was about six years old, the family moved to Montana where her father had a printing press for the local newspaper which was run out of their home. After several years, the family then moved back to Nampa to be closer to relatives. Nita’s mother died when she was 11 years old and she went to live with one of her sisters in Dodge, Washington. There, she attended 7th and 8th grades in a one-room schoolhouse. When her sister moved away, the local doctor and his wife in Pomeroy, Washington took her in. It was there that Nita learned many life lessons and the art of entertaining. While in Pomeroy, Nita worked in the Pea Cannery, in the fields working crop rotation, and attended high school. To finish her high school education, Nita lived with one of her sisters in Nampa, Idaho, where she was a provisional freshman receiving her high school diploma from Northwest Nazarene Academy. Education and scripture were important values instilled by her parents at a young age. Many of the children were educated at Northwest Nazarene College, now NNU.
When Nita was 17 years old, she went to live with one of her brothers in Seattle and started attending the University of Washington.
After marrying Jack Boughton, they left the Seattle area for Jack’s Sheet Metal Apprenticeship in South Euclid, Ohio, where they started their family. They connected with a nearby Nazarene Church, where Nita began teaching the teenage Sunday School class. While in Ohio, Nita became very skilled and accomplished at cake decorating which she really enjoyed. Also, while there Nita heard on the radio about a “secret” red velvet cake recipe. It became one of her favorite and “famous” cakes. With their family growing, they needed to look for property to build a new home. They heard of a Sheriff’s sale for an empty lot. Nita and her young son (without a car) walked to the vacant lot and bid on it and won the bid. This was an example of Nita’s ambitious and resourceful spirit.
Around 1954 the family moved back to Washington State, settling in Kent. They started attending the First Church of the Nazarene in downtown Kent and felt very welcomed. Nita again taught the teens, made and decorated wedding cakes as gifts for wedding couples, hosted baby showers, became missionary president and helped lead Vacation Bible School. Nita also worked seasonally at the Libby’s Pickle Factory in downtown Kent as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Again, showing her diverse talents.
Nita went to work at Boeing as an aircraft mechanic without any prior experience or training. She worked up into the position of an inspector, but her most loved position was being a homemaker. While working at Boeing, she met and married Gordon Cook. They enjoyed social and service activities together at the Renton Nazarene Church. Soon after they married, they purchased property just outside of Republic, Washington enjoying many vacations there. They were also very involved in the Republic Nazarene Church and contributed to their projects and building improvements. Later they built a small cabin on their property by the lake which kept them busy with many projects over the years. She had many wonder-“filled” years with Gordon until he passed away in 2011.
Every place she lived, she was involved in the church and community and would serve wherever there was a need. Her most passionate purpose was being a Sunday School Teacher of the teenagers. When the seniors were graduating, Nita gave each one of them a personally engraved leather-bound Bible as a graduation gift to launch them into their adult life. Even in her 90’s, Nita was very honored to be elected to the Hillside Nazarene Church Board. She served as a volunteer tutor at East Hill Elementary School in Kent in her late 80’s.
Nita enjoyed traveling with Gordon around the United States in their camper and various other trips. She also loved antiquing and rock hounding with her sister Miriam and traveling to Europe with her sister Glady. Nita, Esther, Glady, and Miriam loved playing games and talking into the wee hours of the night. She also enjoyed treating her daughters to an Alaskan Cruise in 2013.
Nita loved to entertain family and friends and was an epic hostess, whether it was a birthday, a holiday celebration, or a high tea party. Every room in her home was decorated in the theme of the special occasion or holiday. She always had a customized favor at each plate which everyone loved to receive. Her multi-course dinners concluded with her famous apple pie, and then followed with the family playing a round or two of Password, Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit. The legendary Eastly Family Reunions that she hosted throughout her life were a highlight and looked forward to by all who came. Her famous “next thing on the list” game was enjoyed by everyone.
Nita was a member of Hillside Church of the Nazarene (formerly Kent First Church of the Nazarene) for many years and also the Renton Nazarene Church and Maple Valley Nazarene Church. She loved eating at The Golden Steer in Kent on Sundays after church or with the Thursday morning breakfast group.
Nita is survived by her children, Phillip (Nadette) Boughton, Pamela (John) Boughton, DeDe (Daryl Petrarca) Boughton, and Juliet (Cameron) Moritz; her grandchildren Aira, Justine, Kyle, Phillip, Canelle, Alex, Kate, and Mackenzie; great-grandchildren Wyatt, Skye, Tsjunder, Nora, Sadie, Chance, Vaylen, Sage, and Isabelle. Nita was preceded in death by her husband Gordon Cook, grandson David Boughton, and her ten brothers and sisters.
Nita’s life was truly an example of her love for God and reliance on Him throughout her 94 years here on this earth. She freely shared this love and passion with others. The family asks that instead of sending flowers or donating to a charity, please do something unexpected and especially kind for another person – friend or stranger – as Nita did throughout her life for thousands of people lucky enough to cross her path and experience her welcoming spirit and bottomless generosity.
The family would like to thank Providence Palliative Care and Nita’s primary care doctor, Dr. Ranu Choudhary for many years of care and support.
Memorial service, Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 2:00pm at Hillside Church Kent Nazarene in Kent, Washington.
Nita will be laid to rest at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa, Idaho with her mother and two sisters.
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- Nita is the young girl with her arms around the younger neighbor who is standing on the chair
Miss her every day.
She was remarkable! I love seeing the pictures of her. She is missed!
She was an awesome lady, loved to play games with her. I am deeply sorry for your loss!
She had such a beautiful spirit! She enjoyed so much of life and was always ready to go with the groups from church. I feel blessed to have known her.
Everyone loved Nita. And she loved on everyone. Positive, smiling, accepting, friendly and engaged with the people she came in contact with. I bought some of her glass vases at a church sale and I will always remember her when I use them. Nita showed Christ’s love in her actions. I’m so glad to have known Nita.
Nita was a wonderful person. I feel blessed to have known her most of my life!
Nita was such a wonderful woman. She always was caring, loving and kind. She caused smiles and laughter every time I was with her. I look forward to seeing her again one day.
What a privilege it was to know and love Nita. She was always a delight to chat with. Her hospitality was beyond compare. She is greatly missed!
I loved Nita so much! She was always smiling, and what a lovely smile it was! She was a true woman of God! So sorry for us, but happy for her being with the Lord!
Truly an angel on earth. Such a lovely spirit she was.
We miss Aunt Nita and the drive she had to bring us together. I never knew that story about her birth. I thank God for the neighbor who wasn’t afraid to try something else to get her breathing. Talk about a divine moment!
Nita was such a special lady and friend! I loved talking with her, laughing together and sharing hugs throughout so many years!
She was the finest hostess I’ve ever known. I especially loved her High Tea. I will always remember her…and smile! One of heaven’s finest angels!
Miss Nita very much. She always listened and always gave wise counsel. Until we meets again Nita!
She was a wonderful lady, always showing love to everyone. She is missed
Nita,
Seems like just yesterday that she passed on to her reward. What a beautiful lady she
was to everyone who had the joy of meeting her. I only met her a few years ago, and we
found we shared much in common. A fond memory I have of her is our annual “Saint Patrick’s Day.” we shared in going to Kent, and having Corn Beef and Cabbage at a favorite restaurant she so enjoyed. We both shared a lot of quiet times with one another and I always felt a very special love she shared with everyone. She truly was a wonderful example of Christ with her love for others. Am very sorry toward the end of her life, I was dealing with some health issues of my own, and unable to be with her more. .May God bless her family, who, she loved so much and remember the wonderful legacy she has passed on to all of us.
What a sweet woman Nita was! Whenever I was with her I had reason to smile. I was fortunate enough to get invited to one of her high teas. It was easy to see that she loved to share and entertain. She made people feel special. She is missed!
What a beautiful, godly legacy Aunt Nita left. I know she meant the world to my grandmother, her sister, Winona.
I will miss my beloved aunt. She was the last of a generation that I have always admired.