Ida Katherine “Kate” Dunkin Cooke
This week marked a sad moment for Old Independence Regional Museum. One of our founding members, Ms. Kate Cooke, passed on January 29, 2023.
Kate graduated from Little Rock Central High School, Ward-Belmont College, and the University of Tulsa, where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sister. In college she met and fell in love with Sam Cooke. The two married and moved around the country in pursuit of Sam’s penchant for geology. After years of accompanying Sam in his a successful career as a geologist, the couple moved back home where Sam managed at Silica Products Company, Kate’s family’s business, in Guion, while Kate taught science at Batesville Junior High School.
Kate had a wide array of interests. She was a PEO Chapter Z member, active at Lyon College, a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Batesville Garden Club, a founding member of the First Monday Investment Club, and volunteer at White River Medical Center as well as Old Independence Regional Museum.
In line for her love of OIRM, Kate adored collecting antiques. Her home was richly decorated with her finds, and the overflow lined the shelves of her antiques shop, Collector’s Corner. Kate even made an appearance on Antiques Roadshow when it was filmed in Little Rock!
In her leisure Kate loved visiting and vacationing with friends and family and playing bridge.
In the first photo, Kate is seated with the OIRM Furnishings Committee determining the look of OIRM before it opened. Also pictured are Alan Bufford (committee chair), Linda Moore, and Twyla Wright.
Photo two depicts Kate and OIRM’s architect, Charles Witsell, chatting at a function.
Kate brought so much to her community. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and Old Independence Regional Museum.
