Obituary of Audrey Barrett Cook
Audrey Barrett Cook passed away in her home on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at the age of 86, after a long life of incredibly active and varied careers and volunteer civic work in Houston, Texas.
A native Houstonian, she was born on May 20, 1935 at the original Jefferson Davis Hospital on Elder at Girard during the Great Depression. She led a varied life in Houston, including Garden Villas near Hobby Airport during World War II, Aldine at F.M. 525 & W. Hardy Rd. in 1945, various parts of town, then her beloved Winlow Place Addition in the inner-city.
She graduated from Aldine High School in 1953 and attended Sam Houston State Teachers College on a 4-year home economics scholarship. In 1956, she became associated with the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo, Poultry & Rabbit Division, for six annual, two-week shows. Also in 1956, she joined the T.G.T. Co. family (aka Tenneco) for 13 years and was manager of their innovative Legal Suites on the entire 7th floor of the new Tenneco Building. In those days, women with young children were not employed by the big oil companies, and she was terminated when her son was born in 1968.
In 1971, Audrey was Office Administrator then Legal Assistant for Atty. William F. Walsh, the nationally known criminal defense attorney at 1955 Richmond Ave. An avant garde leader in the women’s liberation movement, Walsh started her on a law office study program and in 1975 she was the last person in Texas authorized to take the bar examination outside of law school. After Walsh’s death in 1974, she worked as Legal Assistant for Henri de Ybarrondo in the River Oaks Bank Bldg. and for 12 years was associated with his vast investments and partnerships in real estate, stock, and oil.
Audrey formed Cook Office Systems & Services in 1987, and for almost 30 years thereafter provided file organization, paper management, and legal assistance to over 100 leading individuals and small companies. In 1994 she was the sole owner and developer of the 5-unit townhouse project at 2010-2014 Fairview under the name of Cassie May Developments, Inc., in honor of her mother.
She owned her duplex on 1700 Marshall St. for over 55 years in the inner-city and was an officer and Block Captain of her beloved Winlow Place Civic Club and served three terms as president.
She was also their Historian and closely researched its formation, which led to her research, writing and self- publishing in 2008 of a 520-page biography entitled “Obedience Smith (1771-1847), Pioneer of Three American Frontiers, Her Ancestors and Descendants."
In honor of Obedience Smith, who came to Houston in 1836, Audrey was the lead producer of a historic marker under the auspices of the Harris County Historical Commission and financed by the WPCC. It was installed on Sept. 10, 2011 at Lanier Middle School in a huge production with dedication ceremony attended by many leading Houston authorities.
Audrey’s many memberships and volunteer work included the Neartown Assn., Neartown Business Alliance, Museum District Business Alliance, HPD’s Positive Interaction Program, National Assn. of Professional Organizers (N.A.P.O.), Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, and Philomathean Sorority.
Audrey is survived by her son Christopher Cyrus "Chris" Cook of Houston; and his three children, Cody, Conner, and Cassie; and by her six nieces and nephews. She lived longer in years than Hugh Edward, a younger brother, and two older sisters, Paula Ann Harrigan and Betty Lou Harman. Her parents were Cassie May McKee and Ralph F. Barrett.
A visitation with will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 6:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Joseph J. Earthman Genrations, 234 Westcott Street in Houston, Texas.