Helen Nevdia Umphrey Cook, 76, of Niota, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, at Life Care Center of Athens.

A native of Loudon County, and a resident of McMinn County for most of her life, she was a daughter of the late Charles Umphrey and late Mattie Irene Viars Webb. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Marilyn Jeanette West, on Jan. 17, 2007; and one sister, Elsie Philips. She was a member of Union-McMinn Baptist Church and was a former employee of the Athens Regional Medical Center Dietary Department.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Murel \"Jack\" Cook of Niota; one daughter, Janet Gail Cochran of Niota; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Dale Cook, Larry and Vickie Cook, Danny Cook and Ricky and Sharon Cook, all of Niota; two sisters, Nila Thomas of Sweetwater, and Pauline Hooper of California; one brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Alice Umphrey of West Virginia; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Union-McMinn Baptist Church with the Rev. Doug Alexander and the Rev. Paul Thomas officiating. The body will lie in-state at the church from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. Burial will follow in Union-McMinn Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Joe Farris, Dewayne Pitcock, Joe Cook, Lee Cook, Kenneth West and Eric Cook. Casey Brown will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com