Edith Cocek

Edith was born August 10, 1901 on a farm in Ellis County between Milford and Mertens, Texas to Edward C. Shirley and Sallie Hollandworth Shirley. Edith attended Honey Grove School near her home for 4 years. After the 4th grade, she attended Milford Public School and often rode in a buggy or rode a pony side saddle or roomed and boarded especially during bad weather, with a teacher, Miss Wray. Edith graduated from Milford high school in 1920 and enrolled in the College of Industrial Arts, now known as Texas Women?s College in Denton. Edith received a teaching certificate and started her teaching career at Penelope Public School in 1923. She taught the 2nd and 3rd grades. In Penelope she met Ben Cocek who soon became a pharmacist. Ben and Edith were married in July 1924. A train trip to Waco for one night was their honeymoon. Soon a small house was built for $400 dollars and they became new home owners in Penelope. Monthly payments were $15. After teaching for 17 years at Penelope, Edith became the Post Mistress at Penelope and served in this capacity for 7 years. In 1949 Ben and Edith moved to Waco and lived there until 1954. Edith worked during this period for the department store, Goldstein-Migel. In 1954 they moved to Killeen where Edith began her Red Cross employment career at Fort Hood for 11 years. This work was her most rewarding, except maybe for her love for painting. Painting was her real passion in life. She began painting at the age of 15 and never stopped. Survivors include her nieces, Bonnie Joe Taylor and Edith Lou Lightfoot; her nephews, Edward C. Langford, James F. Langford, Jack G. Langford, and Alton Blahuta; 5 great nephews, 4 great nieces, many friends, and especially her artist friends. Edith was preceded in death by her husband Ben Cocek and her parents Edward C. Shirley and Sallie Hollandworth Shirley, brother Weldon Shirley, sister Bonnie Shirley Langford, two nephews, Charles S. Langford and Woodrow W. Langford. ?Rest in Peace, Aunt Edith, you were one classy lady.?