Barbara Ruth Cook Stevens

Barbara Ruth Cook Stevens, age 85, of Milo, Maine, formerly of Jewell Ridge, Virginia passed away Thursday, October 19, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease at Maine General Rehabilitation & Long-Term Care at Glenridge in Augusta, Maine. Barbara, a real-life Coal Miner’s daughter, was born January 21, 1932 in War, West Virginia to the late R. Paul Cook and Dorothy Burke Cook of Jewell Ridge Virginia. “Bobbi” was a country girl who spent much of her life living in the Appalachian Coal Mining town of Jewell Ridge, Virginia. She was raised on the farm up on the mountain that belonged to her maternal grandparents, Mathes M. and Susan Belle Brewster Burke. She attended the Jewell Ridge School and the Jewell Ridge Presbyterian Church, and later attended Richlands Presbyterian Church. Barbara attended Richlands High School, in Richlands, VA where she received excellent grades, and wrote a column about the rural life for the Richlands Progress Newspaper. Upon graduating in 1950 at eighteen, Barbara fearlessly made her way down the mountain to make her way in the world. She moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a fingerprint clerk at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was there that she met the love of her life, Darrell T. Stevens, U.S.M.C. They were married on April 3, 1954 and were together for fifty-three years. As the wife of a career Marine, Barbara took on the duties of a single parent during her husband’s two tours of duty in Vietnam. In 1970, after retiring from the Marine Corps, Darrell, Barbara, and their two sons settled in Brownville Junction, Maine, near her husband's home town of Milo. Barbara was an active member of the community and was involved with the local schools and other community organizations. She enjoyed talking with friends and playing bridge. Barbara and her husband operated a second-hand furniture and clothing booth at the old Sebec Corner Grange Hall for many years. In 1985, Barbara and Darrell moved to Prospect Street in Milo, Maine. Barbara loved spending time with her two grandsons, Nigel and Kevin, at their home in Gardiner, and visited them often. Barbara loved music, and her favorite artists ranged from Bessie Smith to Waylon Jennings. She was especially fond of artists such as Hazel Dickens who kept alive the traditional “High, Lonesome” sound of coal country bluegrass. In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Darrell. She is survived by her son, Christopher Stevens, who lives in Muenster, Texas; son Dan Stevens and wife, Brenda; grandson, Kevin Stevens and his girlfriend, Amber Lund of Gardiner, Maine; grandson Nigel Stevens and his girlfriend, Liza Victoria of Portland, Maine; sister, Carol Cook Mullins of Richlands, Virginia; brother, Paul Ellis “Slick” Cook and wife, Bonnie of Richlands, Virginia; nephews, James Mullins and wife, Patty, of Bluefield, West Virginia; Jeff Mullins and wife, Jackie and their daughter Ellie of Randleman, NC; and Patrick Mullins and wife, Lorraine Gehrig Mullins, formerly of Richlands; nieces, Paula Cook Jackson and husband, Richard; and their son, Ryan of Ocala, FL, formerly of Richlands, VA; Rhonda Cook Nease and husband, Gary, of Richlands, VA; Ami Mullins and husband, Scott of Abingdon, Virginia; nephew, Kevin Robertson and wife, Patty of Thomaston, Maine; and family; nephew, Joel Robertson and family, formerly of Milo; niece Valerie Vail Robertson and family, and nephew Joel Vail and family, all of Milo. There will be a Remembrance Service for Barbara Ruth Cook Stevens at the Chapel of the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Rd, Augusta, ME 04330 at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 3, 2017. Those who wish to express their sympathy are asked to consider a donation to Activity Fund, MGRLTC, 40 Glenridge Drive, Augusta, ME 04330.

Barbara Ruth Cook Stevens

January 21, 1932 - October 19, 2017