Nancy Jean (Taggert) Cookingham

Nancy Jean (Taggert) Cookingham, age 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 1, 2018. Nancy was born August 26, 1930, in Grand Rapids, MI. She moved with her family to Lowell at an early age. She attended Lowell Schools where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Wayne J. Cookingham. Nancy graduated from Lowell High School in 1949 and married Wayne on January 7, 1950. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Ann (Sexton) Taggert; father-in-law, Corry and his wife, Daphna Cookingham; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Violet Taggert, Janet Cookingham, Avis Cookingham, Lawrence Cookingham, Louis (June Cookingham) Paap and Edward Norton. Nancy is survived by her husband of 69 very happy years of marriage, Wayne; her children, Terri Ann (William) Willyard; their three children, Amanda (Ryan) Jenison; their two sons, Logan and Aiden Jenison; Brent (Jennelyn) Willyard; and Hayley Willyard; and her two sons, Isaac and Tucker Wszolek. She is also survived by her brother, William (Mary) Taggert; brother- and sister-in-law, Corry Cookingham and Doris Norton; and many nieces and nephews. In 1870, Nancy’s great-great-grandfather, C.C. Sexton, was Editor and Proprietor of the first daily paper in Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Daily Times, which cost three cents. Nancy joined Cascade Christian Church in the early 1950s shortly after her marriage to Wayne. She was in Job’s Daughters in her teens and later joined the Eastern Star. In late 1953 she spent three months in Germany with Wayne while he was stationed there serving in the United States Army. Nancy worked as a bank teller for several years until her daughter was born. She also served as a Deacon for several years in the Cascade Christian Church. After Terri Ann was born, Nancy became a homebody and housewife until 1986 when she went to work in Johnny’s Cafeteria at Calvin College. She ran a cash register in the snack shop for 27 years where she enjoyed conversations with her fellow employees and the many students she served. After Wayne and Nancy retired, they had many good times vacationing and traveling in places outside of the United States and in southern locations within the United States. Visitation will be Friday, December 7 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. The funeral service will be Saturday, December 8 at 11 AM at the Cascade Christian Church Chapel, 2829 Thornapple River Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Rev. Jill Forton officiating. Interment Chapel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nancy’s name may be made to the Chapel Fund at Cascade Christian Church.