Deryl (Cook) Bishop

Deryl Bishop, 94, of Joaquin, Tx passed away on January 22, 2022. She was born on July 3, 1927, in Forest Hill, Louisiana, to the late Ivey and Lessie (Dunn) Cook.  Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Haslam Baptist Church in Joaquin, Texas, officiated by Bro. Jody Hooper.  Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm till 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at Haslam Baptist Church in Joaquin, Texas.

Deryl Bishop, known as Meemee to family and friends, has run a good race, fought a good fight, and through it all has “collected” so many precious friends and memories. She’s had marvelous experiences, and built a good and noble name for herself. She truly lived every moment of her 94 years!

Deryl was born July 3, 1927, which she always laughingly said was too close to the Fourth of July to celebrate her birthday. She was born to Ivey Calhoun Cook and Lessie Inez Cook who were farmers in Forest Hill, Louisiana. She had a happy childhood there playing in the creek with her brothers and sister on the farm. She was raised by Godly parents who taught her Biblical truths by example as well as by reading the Bible and attending the little Baptist Church close by.

She was a lovely young girl of 16 years when she met the love of her life, Raymond Hugh Bishop. They knew right away they were a “match.” They were married December 18, 1943. Ray was a young soldier in training at Camp Cliborne nearby. He was ordered to Illinois, and she went with him. They lived there until he was shipped out to England. Separation came hard for the young couple, like it did for millions of others in the days of World War II. They settled down to farming when Ray returned from the war.

Deryl and Ray had three children – Michael Raymond Bishop, David Gerald Bishop, and Susan Louise Bishop. They were all born within three years. Texas Eastern advertised for workers, and Ray answered the ad and got a job in Castor and was later transferred to Joaquin, which was to be their permanent home. They were always able to live within their means.  One of the things Meemee was always able to do was to “make do” with whatever she had. She could fix anything and made do with what she had instead of wanting  things she didn’t have.  This is a valuable lesson she’s passed down to her family through the years.

They settled into the Joaquin community and made tons friends. Ray and Deryl loved attending all the school sports, especially  all the gamers their grandchildren participated in. They supported their town in anyway they could. Ray and Deryl helped build a baseball field in Joaquin and coaches or cheered for years. They loved sports, as well as games and any competition. Meemee was a ferocious competitor and managed to win most of the time at any game she played! In her later years she worked at the local food pantry and delivered Meals on Wheels to the elderly of Joaquin.

Meemee was the rock in our family and the glue that held us altogether. She was a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great grandmother who gave us all many special memories. She was so proud of all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Every single one of us knew we were loved. We thank the Lord for such a precious lady to call our own.