Leona Baird Cook

Leona Baird Cook, 87, passed away May 15, 2026 at Grace Assisted Living in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Leona was born August 10, 1938, in Shelley, Idaho, to Wayne and Isabell Baird. She was born at home and delivered by a midwife. They lived in the log house that her father built. Her formative years were spent in Shelley, with the family moving to Goshen, Idaho when she was in the 8th grade.

During her teenage years Leona was active in 4-H, FHA (Future Homemakers of America), and played the clarinet in band. She was an assistant band director. She also worked on the family farm where she developed a strong work ethic. She often talked about hauling hay, topping sugar beets and harvesting potatoes. This work ethic would carry her through life.

Mom decided when she was in high school that she wanted to be a nurse. The pay was good and there was no farm work. After graduating from Firth High School in 1956, Leona went to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. She then transferred to the nursing program at the LDS Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

While in nursing school she was introduced to a Navy sailor named Ronald James Cook. They dated for about 18 months and were married July 21, 1960 in Basalt, Idaho.

After their wedding Ron and Leona moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where Ron continued to serve in the US Navy. They lived in Virginia for about a year, then moved to Ohio for Ron to attend Ohio State University. Leona worked nights as a Registered Nurse at the hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1963, Ron and Leona’s first daughter, Dian, was born. In 1968, their second daughter, Dawna, was born. At this time Leona stopped working to stay at home and care for her family.

In 1971 the Cook family moved to Wheaton, IL for Ron to begin working at the US Atomic Energy Commission (now Nuclear Regulatory Commission) as a nuclear engineer.

Leona volunteered at the elementary school and was active in the city PTA. At one PTA meeting the topic of allowing the students to smoke at the high school was discussed. Leona started a letter-writing campaign against the measure and involved the women who had children in high school. The letters were successful and the measure was dropped!

Leona was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her whole life. The majority of her church callings and service were among the children and young women. Her favorite calling was being a primary teacher. Leona was also a faithful visiting teacher. She consistently visited, served and loved the women she was assigned to watch over.

In 1976 Leona thought she was having a gallbladder attack. When she saw the doctor, he said, “We’ll deliver that gallbladder in the spring.” In 1977 Ron and Leona’s third daughter, Rebecca, was born.

In 1978 Ron’s employer transferred him to Midland, Michigan, and the family moved. In May 1981, Ron made the decision to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In June 1982 Ron and Leona and their three daughters were sealed together in the Idaho Falls Temple.

While living in Midland, Leona decided to return to nursing. She took a nursing refresher course at the local community college and had her nursing certification updated. She then worked at the hospital in Midland with oncology patients.

In spring 1984 Ron was again transferred by the NRC. This time to work at Three Mile Island. The Cook family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Leona began working in the maternity unit at Harrisburg Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Leona enjoyed exploring south-central Pennsylvania. She especially loved the Amish farmlands and visiting historical sites, Hershey’s Chocolate World and various factories.

In 1992, the family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee for Ron’s new job at Oak Ridge National Lab. Leona started working at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, again in the maternity unit. Leona and Ron enjoyed walking together in the many parks around Oak Ridge and visiting the Great Smoky Mountains. While living in Oak Ridge, Ron passed away on April 20, 2002. Leona was devastated and missed her husband and best friend greatly.

After Ron’s passing, Leona continued working at the hospital until retiring from nursing in 2005. Soon after she moved to Springville, Utah, to be closer to family. While living in Springville, Leona continued to be actively involved at church. She loved having the privilege of working in the Provo Temple in Provo, Utah.

As Leona was aging, her daughters asked her to move near one of them. She chose to move to Twin Falls, Idaho where Dawna was living. Leona chose Twin Falls because “It feels like I’m going home” because of the farmland and trucks loaded with sugar beets and potatoes. Again she continued to serve at church.

In December 2021 Leona was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In February 2022 she moved to Grace Assisted Living in Twin Falls, Idaho. In April 2024 she transferred to the Memory Care part of Grace. Leona’s daughters are grateful to the amazing staff of Grace. She received wonderful, loving, quality care there. This gave her daughters many opportunities to just be with Mom and enjoy each other’s company in her final years.

Leona is survived by her three daughters Dian (Kevin) Jacobson, Dawna (Jay) Andrus, and Rebecca (Andrew) Jorgensen; eight grandchildren Matthew, Camille, Noah, John, Pearl, Daniel, Isabell (“Izzy”) and Hailey; siblings Merna (the late John) Lindley, Berva (Dana) Griffen, Aleata Baird, Calvin (Sheree) Baird, and NaDine (Chris) Timothy; and brother-in-law Thomas Durrant.

Leona was preceded in death by siblings Marjorie (Albert) Cleverley, Nelma (Ronald) Nichols and Bonnie Durrant; and many, many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 22, 2026 at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W Oak Street in Shelley. The family will receive friends Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. till 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Goshen Cemetery.

Those who would like to participate in the funeral service remotely are invited to view the service on a live broadcast on Nalder Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

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