Charlene Lee Cooke

Charlene Cooke, 69, passed away Friday October 25, 2024 from a sudden cardiac arrest.  Charlene was a proud Cochiti Pueblo Native American who was born in Santa Fe, NM and lived in Albuquerque until graduating from Highland High School. She then married Jim Cooke, her “steady” since the 8th grade, and together they embarked on Jim’s tour of duty in the US Army, where they lived in Asbury Park, NJ and the Panama Canal zone while raising their firstborn daughter Jenni Ford. Upon returning, they lived again in Albuquerque for several years, working at Skaggs Drug Store and pursuing an education that would later have them move to Fort Collins, CO where they had their second daughter Crystal Cooke. Charlene and Jim also live in Singapore and Ann Arbor, MI, though they always returned to Fort Collins. Charlene loved her career and friends made at Hewlett Packard and Celestica but was most passionate about her involvement with AA and Breast Cancer support groups. Charlene loved being a mother and homemaker, bringing her Southwestern Native American flare to the home that she and Jim designed, built, and decorated. She loved her visits to Europe and Asia and our family adventures spent in the mountains of NM and CO camping, fishing and hiking, especially at the family homestead cabin in Brazos NM.

Charlene was the daughter of Mary Alice and Lee Padillia and was raised mostly by her Grandparents Donna and Manual Melchior (Big Mama and Big Daddy respectively), whom have both already passed away. She had 3 sisters, Dede Van Voltinberg (deceased), Linda Stephens, and Bobbi Johnson. Being raise by Big Mama and Big Daddy, she was particularly close to her Aunt Betty Jackson (deceased) and Betty’s daughters Nancy Sacoman and Kriss Middleton. 

Charlene is survived by her husband of 52 years Jim Cooke, her daughter Jenni Ford and her husband Damon Ford, granddaughter Kaitlyn Ford, grandson Logan Ford, daughter Crystal Cooke and husband Brady McEwen. Additionally, many nieces, nephews and extended family members are honored in Charlene’s prayers; Amber, Leland, Serita and Brandon Stephens; Devyn, Dominick, and Donovan Mom; Christian, Elizabeth and Camden James Sacoman; Stephanie Middleton and Derek Williams; Rhonda Riley, and Bob and Rossi Cooke.

A gathering in celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at 2pm. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.