Mildred Barrick Cousins died July 20, 2011. Mildred, known as “Pooh” to family and close friends, was born in Danville, Arkansas, November 30, 1913, to Joseph Newton and Sarah Alice (Haire) Barrick. She graduated from Belleville High School in Arkansas in 1934 and attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Arkansas. Pooh married Floyd O’Neal Cousins in 1936 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary prior to his death in 1986.

Pooh was essentially orphaned at the age of four when her mother died. At various times she lived with her aunts, uncles, older brothers and sisters, working for her keep while caring for her two younger brothers. She dropped out of school in the eighth grade in 1928. After working for several years and realizing that education would be the key to her success, she returned to school in 1931 with the help of her mentor Lou Wells, a Home Economics teacher in Belleville, Arkansas. “Aunt Lou” gave her a home and helped her attend high school in Belleville and Stillwater and college at Arkansas Tech. On Aunt Lou’s advice, Pooh enrolled in school as age 15 instead of her true age of 18. “Aunt Lou” gave her “elocution” lessons with her “butter and eggs” money and taught her to sew and cook.

Pooh was a great survivor and overcame obstacles that many others along the way found insurmountable. When a need arose, she accomplished the seemingly impossible as a great leader and team member. Her children, Joel and Sally, say that she was a powerful role model and a very giving parent. One of her favorite sayings was “can’t never did.”

Before moving to Muskogee in 1940 to purchase Cousins Shoe Hospital, Mildred and Floyd lived in Stillwater, Tulsa, and Ponca City, Oklahoma. Mildred worked there beside Floyd as the chief salesperson for 42 years while the store evolved from a shoe repair, to a western store, to a shop for orthopedic, children’s and athletic shoes. Pooh’s desire to sell was motivated by preventing Floyd from running off the customers. After selling the store in 1982, she stayed so busy that she wondered how they had time to work all those years.

Pooh always believed in giving back to the community and lived her entire life driven to do so. Pooh was active for 67 years in many different roles at the First Presbyterian Church, including 24 years as volunteer Sunday School Superintendent. As a businesswoman, she was active for over fifty years in the Soroptimist Club, serving as president 2 or 3 times and receiving the Soroptimist Laurel Society award in 2001.

In 1951, Pooh became active in Muskogee Girl Scouts as a Troop Leader, Troop Organizer, and 40 year Board Member. She worked to secure Camp Polly for local Girl Scouts and assisted in negotiations for the purchase of that camp on Ft. Gibson Lake.

She was a founding Board Member of the Three Rivers Museum, having worked for many years with the late Dorothy Ball to raise funds and secure title to the former Midland Valley Depot. She remains an Emeritus Board Member. Pooh cleaned the gardens, worked as a docent, and steadfastly advocated for the preservation of the Grant and Carolyn Thomas Foreman Home as a tribute to Muskogee pioneers.

Muskogee Garden Club, Muskogee Rose Society, Muskogee Historical Society, A More Beautiful Muskogee, Rotary Anns, and supporting Floyd’s Shrine activities were also the objects of much of her devotion to civic work. She also belonged to several bridge clubs over the years.

Mildred is survived by her daughter, Sally Cousins and Torch Elliott, of Park City, Utah and son, Joel Cousins, and his partner, Frank Medearis, of Muskogee. Her grandchildren are Chip (and Debbi) Elliott of West Point, New York; Grant (and Danyel) Cousins of Tulsa, Oklahoma; CiCi Coles of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Libby Elliott (and Jeremy Davis) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Cat Elliott (and Kirstyn Palmisano) of Seattle, Washington. Her great-grandchildren are Casey, Jacob and Ian Elliott of West Point; Lauren and Grace Cousins, Sarah Trotter and Nicole Ingraham of Tulsa, and Charlotte Davis of Philadelphia.

Mildred will be in repose at Bradley Funeral Service until Friday, July 29th.

Memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church on July 29, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. Please wear something red in honor of Pooh’s favorite color. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Three Rivers Museum or The Thomas-Foreman Home both at 220 Elgin, Muskogee 74401 or the First Presbyterian Church at 500 W. Broadway, Muskogee 74401.

The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral Service of Muskogee with the arrangements.

Friends may send condolences on the web site www.bradleyfuneralservice.com