Locals in the Limelight; Delbert and Deloris Cook

Delbert and Delores Cook have been married for 64 years. I sat down in their immaculate home as we reminisced about their life together. Delbert has been a tireless worker all his life and did not retire from masonry work until he was in his mid-80s. Delores is a ball of energy, a sprite on her feet, a great "conversationalist" as her husband stated. In fact, he deferred to her during much of the interview because of her great recall of facts. He told me, "she knows my past better than I do." When asked what Delores admired about her husband, she told me, "he still likes me." I guess that says a lot after 64 years of marriage.

Delbert Cook was born in 1926, the middle child of Alex and Marie Kissler Cook. They lived southwest of Odessa in the country. His father was a tenant farmer. His brother was Lavene Cook (now deceased), and his sister is Frances Weishaar from Odessa. He attended the Kissler School in the country and rode a horse the six or seven miles to get there. He later attended high school in Odessa. His best friend was Melvin Kissler, who was also a neighbor and a cousin. Delbert described his parents as strict Germans and him as the dutiful son. "They kept me in line – no horsing around," he said.

Delores Schorzman Cook was born in 1928 to Gus and Ida Schorzman who were also farmers. Her siblings, all now deceased, were an older brother Eugene "Mutt," an older sister Ellene "Polly," and a kid sister Marciel. Her two older siblings were born at home. "Back in those days, you wrapped up the baby and stuck it in the oven to keep it warm." I was shocked when she told me that, but she chuckled and assured me it was quite common. I was somewhat relieved that when Delores was born, her mother went to St. Lukes in Spokane. She attended Dry Lake School which she described as very "plush," because it doubled as a church on the weekends. Fortunately for her, the school insisted on hiring teachers who could also teach music. Delores developed a lifelong passion for playing piano and the organ from Mrs. Kreger and Miss Norby. She recalls meeting Mrs. Kieger's grandmother one time and the students being shocked when she spoke English. "All of us had grandmothers who only spoke German," she said.

Delores graduated from Marlin High School in 1945 as the valedictorian. She had also been a cheerleader for four years.

After high school, Delbert enlisted in the Merchant Marines. He still remembers being on a ship near Alaska with the Japanese in pursuit. A couple years later, he went to California and into the Navy as a seaman first class aboard the USS St. Paul and the USS Blue Ridge. He witnessed the first atomic bomb being tested in water. They were about a mile away. It rocked the ship, causing it to sway back and forth, and the waves that resulted could have sunk the ship. "It was enormous," Delbert told me. Later, they tested one in the air and Delbert has often wondered about the after effects of the fallout on the men that were there. After four years of service in the Merchant Marines and Navy, he decided it was time to do something different.

Delores had attended Kinman Business University and was working for Howard Phillips, an attorney in town, and later for Laurence Libsack. She had known Delbert around town, "we used to have big parties over at Lucy and Fred Weishaars," she informed me. So many people in the area were very musical. Delores played in bands from the time she was 14 or 15, and dances were held in Odessa and many surrounding towns, especially in Wilson Creek. "People came from all over. They would have big picnics, movie nights and dances," Delores said. When she said she made good money playing music, I was surprised they were paid at all. "You darn tootin' we were!," she said.

When Delbert returned home, his brother had taken over the farm, so he worked other jobs. One of them, as a "hod" carrier, was hauling bricks and mixing mortar for a bricklayer. Delbert explained that, "I carried 'em until I learned how to lay 'em." There was a building boom going on in Odessa in the '40s. Homes and buildings were springing up everywhere, with the primary builders being the Schauerman brothers, A.J. Weber and Henry Hopp. This job led to a lifetime career for Odessa's best known masonry expert.

One day, Delores had just taken a stumble down the stairs at the lawyer's office and was walking down First Avenue. Delbert was tending bar at the Odessa tavern (currently the location of the dental practice of Dr. Condon), and when he saw her walk by, he tapped on the window and flagged her down. They started dating. Apparently, her father was very supportive and loved that she was dating such an accomplished young man. When I asked Delbert how long they dated, he grinned and replied, "we still are!" They married about a year later in October of 1949, the second couple to marry in the new United Congregational Church.

He was 25, she was 23, and she remembers her father would not walk her down the aisle in spite of his overwhelming approval of her groom. "He thought that was silly at my age," Delores told me.

Since they married, Delbert and Delores have moved 22 times, including three years they spent in Portland, Ore. They never had children but are blessed to have 17 nieces and nephews. Their first home was a rented garage apartment. When they were given an opportunity in a veteran's drawing to select a choice piece of ground at a discounted price, they purchased a farm at Grant Orchards near Ephrata where they had wheat and cattle.

They bought the Odessa Lumber Company in 1969 and owned and operated the Hill Villa Apartments for years, all the while also running Delbert's construction business, Cooks Masonry and Construction. Delbert had multiple jobs going at one time, sometimes in many towns. His favorite thing? "I like to do a project from the ground up, start to finish." He credits his faithful workers, Bob and Don Zimbleman, Jerry Starkel and Harvey Iltz, to name a few. His company built the original Community Center, the cemetery chapel, the Odessa Museum and the Grange Supply Co. Delbert commented on how tough the construction business is with fluctuations in the economy. His reputation was important to him and the business was demanding. I noted there is hardly a building or home in this town he hasn't had a hand in. He said he has been around so long, he has even been involved in tearing down some of the things he had built when they were renovating. Coming full circle, he has certainly left his mark in this community.

Delbert and Delores are very active in the church, having been Heritage Church members since 1949. They sang in the choir and were members of the Cannawai Harvesters (Delbert plays bass), one of the first bands to play in the beer garden. Delbert has served as Lions Club president, president of the Marlin Gun Club and was recently bestowed with an honorary award for being a 65-year VFW member. "I am most proud of that," Delbert told me.

The Cooks share a love of geneology, the water, trips during the winter to warmer places and taking drives around Odessa. Delbert and Delores have sung duets together, and she has played piano or organ in countless church ceremonies over the years. Delores had a final thought out on the front porch as I was leaving. "You know, there are hardly any weddings or funerals anymore in this town." I laughed and told her, "well, as to the latter, that is probably a good thing."