Irish Medley

BackGround: Detroit Temple, Detroit, Michigan.

Descendants of Robert M^cCOOK
and
Jane/Janet HANNA

Up Dated 29 December 2007
Third Generation

524. Donald Morris M^cCOOK
and
Helen MARSHALL

Pictures of the Donald Morris M^cCOOK Family

Ahmentafel Chart for Helen J. (MARSHALL) M^cCOOK

Donald Morris was born 7 June 1916 in Cohoctah, Livingston, Michigan, and married 30 September 1939 in Michigan, Helen J. MARSHALL the daughter of Louie MARSHALL and Evelyn KINGSLEY. She was born 20 February 1919, in Grand Ledge, Eaton, Michigan, and died 3 June 1999 in Solesbury, Bucks, Pennsylvania. He died 8 May 1961; New Hope, Bucks, Pennsylvania, of Skin Cancer.

HELEN J. M^cCOOK
Makes Dolls to look Like
You and Me
by Pati SHEEHE

Imagine your daughter waking up on Christmas mourning to find a doll under the tree that is an exact replica of herself. Or imagine having a doll that looks just like a favorite relative did as a child -- same face, same expression, same hair, same favorite outfit.

Such things are the stuff that fantasies are made of and Helen M^cCOOK makes dreams like these come true.

An artist, sculptor, writer, grandmother and lover of dolls. Helen specializes in making dolls that look just like real people. She sculpts the heads either from live subjects or from photographs. She hand paints the face, makes custom outfits, prefers to sculpt the hair because it's "more of an art form." but will make dolls with wigs if that's what the customer wants.

PORCELAIN FACES

The faces of her dolls are highfired porcelain and the dolls are one-of-a-kind, signed, dated, and take anywhere from two month to two years to complete depending as Helen says on "what's going on in my life."

A lover of children's art and primitives, Helen's favorite dolls depict "street children right out of play in jeans, scarves and mittens." "Everything is hand made including the sneakers," she says." The hats, sweaters, mittens and scarves are all handknit and the sneakers are made of felt with plastic soles."

A graduate of Western Michigan University who taught arts and crafts at summer camps for 25 years, headed up the art department at Solebury School and taught art at Buckingham Friends School. Helen dips further back into her childhood for her doll making skills.

"I was one of eight children," she explained while painting a set for a children's show to be held at the Phillips Mill. "We lived with my grandparents who were very patient and kind. My grandmother had a dress making establishment and taught me how to sew, and my grandfather had a carpenter's shop in the basement and taught me how to use tools. So I was always into some kind of art work.

Worked for Cybis:

Helen has also worked as a sculptor for Cybis Porcelain company which she said taught her "discipline," and has written for two doll craft magazines: Doll Castle News and The Doll Maker.

While she'll make a doll for almost anyone who asks, she says that her dolls are "mainly for doll collectors and those who want rare dolls."

She adds, "When collectors are judged on their collections for blue ribbons they get extra points for a very rare Helen M^cCOOK doll." Helen continues: I"m an artist working alone; I have no one working for me -- no inventory -- and I don't turn out a lot of dolls of one kind. I just do a doll and someone buys it."

However, she dose have a group of dolls she calls her "Peace Dolls," named because she was working on them when the astronauts landed on the moon. I realized that the moon makes us all such a good target that man will finally have to live in peace," she said.

In addition to the "Peace Dolls" she is also working on "The American School child Group" consisting of children of many different races and ethnic groups.

Has she done any dolls of famous people? Yes, but she's careful to protect their privacy so she won't mention names. She still has a doll of Mason REESE in her possession, however, that she did for her own enjoyment.

During the month of December, Helen M^cCOOK'S watercolors and dolls are on display at the Continental Banks in New Hope and in Lahaska. Stop in and see them, Helen says "Its my Christmas card to friends and neighbors in this area."

Helen J. (MARSHALL) M^cCOOK died 3 June 1999 in Solebury, Bucks, Pennsylvania.

Census Records

1920 Census Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan ED 188 Sheet 4B Line 59
                                        Marr |   Place of Birth   |
Name              Relation Sex Race Age Stat |Self   Father Mother| Occupation
McCOOK Roy W      Head      M   W    36  M    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   See Below
  "    Eva R      Wife      F   W    38  M    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    Virginia L Daughter  F   W     8  S    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    Barbra J   Daughter  F   W     7  S    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    Donald M   Son       M   W     4  S    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    John H     Son       M   W     2  S    Mich.  Ohio   Mich.   none
Donald M age 4 11/12
John H age 2 8/12
Occ: Roy W. Retail Dealer Hardware Store

1920 Census Grand Ledge, Eaton, Michigan ED 103 Sheet 2B Line 54
                                         Marr |   Place of Birth   |
Name               Relation Sex Race Age Stat |Self   Father Mother| Occupation
MARSHALL Don L.    Head      M   W    29  M    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   Mail Carrier City
   "     Evelyn K. Wife      F   W    23  M    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Mary L.   Daughter  F   W     2  S    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Helen J   Daughter  F   W     0  S    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
KINGSLEY Bruce T.  Boarder   M   W    20  S    Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   Clerk Post Office
MARSHALL Jessie L. Mother    F   W    53  M    Mich.  Ohio   Mich.   Dressmaker Own Home
CHAPMAN  Lewis W.  G Father  M   W    78  M    Ohio   Mass.  Ohio    Manager Planing Mill
   "     Anna      G Mother  F   W    73  M    Mich.  N. Y.  Mich.   none
DAVIS    Jean D.   Cousin    F   W    11  M    Mich.  Penn.  Mich.   none
Mary L age 2 8/12
Helen J age 10/12

1930 Census Ward 3 Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan. ED 27 Sheet 14B Line 94
                                             Age
                                        Marr 1st  |   Place of Birth   |
Name              Relation Sex Race Age Stat Marr |Self   Father Mother| Occupation
McCOOK Roy W.     Head      M   W    46  M    25   Mich.  U. S.  U. S,   See Below
  "    Eva        Wife      F   W    48  M    28   Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    Virginia L Daughter  F   W    18  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none 
  "    Barbara J  Daughter  F   W    17  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    Donald M   Son       M   W    13  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
  "    John H     Son       M   W    12  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
SAVAGE Hollister  Lodger    M   W    40  D   ----  Mich.  U. S.  U. S.   See Below
Rented home for $50.00 a month No radio.
Occ: Roy W Proprietor Botteling Works (botteled Nehi Pop)
Occ: Hollister Driver Botteling Works

1930 Census Grand Ledge, Eaton, Michigan. ED 17 Sheet 9B Line 67
                                               Age
                                          Marr 1st  |   Place of Birth   |
Name                Relation Sex Race Age Stat Marr |Self   Father Mother| Occupation
MARSHALL Louie    	  Head      M   W    39  M    26   Mich.  Mich.  Mich,   See Below
   "     Evelyn A.  Wife      F   W    33  M    20   Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Mary L.    Daughter  F   W    12  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none 
   "     Helen J.   Daughter  F   W    11  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Don L.     Son       M   W     9  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Leonard H. Son       M   W     8  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     William D. Son       M   W     7  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Albert O.  Son       M   W     4  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Harold L.  Son       M   W     2  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     James H.   Son       M   W     0  S   ----  Mich.  Mich.  Mich.   none
   "     Jessie L.  Mother    F   W    64  D   ----  Mich.  Ohio   Mich.   none
CHAPMAN  Lewis      G Father  M   W    89  Wd  ----  Ohio   U. S.  U. S.   none
Owned Home worth $3,500 and had a Radio
Occ: Machinist Auto Factory
Albert O. age 4 11/12
Harold L age 2 11/12
James h age 10/12

Social Security Death index

Name                     DONALD MC COOK
SSN:                     382-14-4087
Birth:                   07 Jun 1916
Death:                   -- May 1961
Last Residence:          (not specified)
Last Benefit:            (none specified)
State (Year) SSN Issued: Michigan

Name:                    HELEN J MC COOK
SSN:                     362-16-5479
Born:                    20 Feb 1919
Died:                    03 Mar 1999
Last Residence:          18938 New Hope, Bucks, PA
Last Benefit:            (none specified)
State (Year) SSN issued: MI (Before 1951) 

OBITS

CHILDREN of Donald Morris M^cCOOK and Helen MARSHALL:

 + 5241. 1. MICHELLE L b: 11 Aug 1942; , , Michigan.
       AKA. MICKIE
                      md:            ; 
                                       Bill WARNER.
                       d: 20 Oct 2002; , , .
 + 5242. 2. JON M.     b:            ;
                      md:            ; 
                                       Windy FERGUSON
   5243. 3. JAMES      b:            ;
       AKA. JIMMIE
       

Back to Our Genealogy Home Page.

Back to Robert McCOOK's Home Page.

Sources For This Page

Birth record found at the State of Michigan (not in Livingston Co.)

1920 Census records for Decatur, Van Buren Co. Michigan.

Death Information via way of his wife to sister Virginia Louise (M^cCOOK) LOOMIS to my Mother Barbara Jeanne (M^cCOOK) FORREST.

Social Security Death Index.

LDS Church FamilySearch
Ancestrial File. AFN 651R-71 for Donald and DG9H-X6 for Helen.
International Genealogical Index. Film #: 537732, Page #: 13, Ordinance #: 40748

News Papers for obits (see above)
Intelligencer Record - Intelligencer Record - Doylestown PA
The Times - The Times - Trenton NJ
Grand Ledge Independent Grand Ledge, Eaton County, MI

To reach me by e-mail click on mailbox