Stacye Lynn Cooke, 74, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 21, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Spokane, Washington, on July 23, 1951, Stacye was the first of three children born to Paul L. and Patricia E. Spendlove. Her childhood was spent on the lovely beaches of Westminster, California, where her family resettled. After graduating from La Quinta High School in 1969, a desire for independence led Stacye back to her birthplace of Spokane, where she began her first job at Deaconess Hospital.

It was in Spokane that she met and fell in love with Thomas R. Cooke, who was serving in the United States Air Force. They married on July 21, 1972, and on October 22, 1974, they were blessed with the birth of their beautiful son, Jason Lee Cooke.

Soon after, Stacye began a life of worldwide travel and adventure as a devoted military wife and mother. She accompanied her husband on new Air Force assignments across the United States and overseas, embracing each new place as home. Her family's final assignment at Langley Air Force Base brought them to Hampton, Virginia, in October 1986. Stacye established a warm and loving home in the Buckroe area, which would be her residence for the next forty years.

Stacye's heart was always in service to others. She dedicated her time to volunteering at the Veterans Administration Hospital and supporting her son's sporting activities. Her love for children and her passion for their growth led her to a fulfilling role as a special education teacher's assistant in the Hampton School District, where she worked with learning-disabled and handicapped children. As an active member of the Hampton Elks Lodge #366, she volunteered on the Housing Committee and helped plan numerous community events.

Her devotion to the Lord was a cornerstone of her life. She was a faithful member of Wallace Memorial United Methodist Church and later Fox Hill Central United Methodist Church, where she loved to sing praises to the Lord as a member of the choir. She also completed a devotional walk in the Peninsula Rainbow Emmaus and later served as a table leader, providing support for future walks and the Emmaus programs.

Stacye's spirit of adventure never dimmed. She found joy in hiking the mountains of California and Washington, skiing in the Alps, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, touring the country by motorcycle, and camping in the great outdoors, including a memorable road trip through the Yukon Territory and Alaska. Her life was blessed again on July 31, 2002, with the birth of her cherished grandson, Jason Thomas Cooke (JT).

Stacye's life can be encapsulated by five "F" words: Family, Friends, Flowers, Food, and Fun. In her 74 years, she experienced a beautiful abundance of each. In her final years, Stacye faced many health challenges with incredible strength and grace. Though weary in her final days, she found peace and was ready to be called home to the Lord.

Stacye was preceded in death by her parents, Paul L. and Patricia E. Spendlove; her brother, Scott L. Spendlove; and her father-in-law, Thomas J. Cooke.

She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Thomas R. Cooke; her son, Jason L. Cooke, her daughter-in-law, Connetta S. Cooke; her grandson, Jason T. Cooke; her sister, Paula L. Schloesser; and her nieces, Deanna L. Cuevas, Crystal L. Spencer, and Summer L. Spendlove.

Stacye will be deeply missed by her family, her many friends, and all who were fortunate enough to have known her warmth and light. Gone but never forgotten.