I.R. "Cookie" Anders

I.R. “Cookie” “Ruthie” Anders, 91, of Westville, IL, went to meet the Lord peacefully during her sleep, November 26, 2024, at Lakeview Memory Care in Bloomingdale, IL. Cookie was born April 9, 1933, in Danville. She is daughter of Herman Cook and Emma (Blankenburg) Cook. She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas “Tom” “Andy” Anders, parents, and siblings. 

She is survived by her daughter, Melody Thomas; son-in-law, Carl Thomas; and grandson, Brayton Thomas. 

 Cookie graduated from Danville High School in 1951. After marrying Andy, her high school sweetheart in 1952, they moved to Wichita Falls, TX where Andy was stationed in the US Air Force. After two years, they relocated to Westville, IL. She worked at Illinois Power and then began her crafting career. Cookie took her talents to the YWCA by teaching cake decorating and oil painting. Wanting more, she partnered with three friends in the late 1970s to open Daisy’s Etc., a craft store in Catlin, IL. Such the entrepreneur, she moved the business to Westville, as the sole owner of Cooke’s Craft Cottage (CCC) in the early 1980s. She left oil painting for acrylic folk art painting. Cookie was successful at any craft imaginable. With the patience of a saint, she became a highly desired instructor of all her craft talents. As a long-time knitter, she converted the store into a charming yarn store, with hand painted items on the side. Customers would drive from Indianapolis and Champaign for her personally chosen exquisite yarns and expert instruction. If Cookie could not fix someone’s dilemma, it could not be fixed. Throughout her life, she never lost sight of her Lord and family. Every Sunday you would find Cookie and Andy in Bible class, studying the words of Christ. The only exception was when the family was off to one of Melody’s baton contests. She enjoyed sharing her gifts at CCC long into her senior years. Like Andy, retirement was not in Cookie’s vocabulary. You would frequently find her knitting bag resting by her side and her nimble fingers knitting away. Wherever she went, everyone loved Cookie. She was a woman of faith whose smile illuminated the room. Your love and compassion will be missed. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1PM on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion Street Danville, Illinois 61834. Pastor Kent Tibben will officiate. Burial will follow at Lutheran Cemetery in Danville, Illinois. Visitation will be from 4PM-6PM on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion Street in Danville.   Memorials in Cookie’s name may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Danville, Illinois, or the Alzheimer’s Association.   Please join the family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.   Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion Street in Danville, Illinois, is honored to be caring for the family.