Carmen Cookson, age 94, went to be with the Lord on February 10, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospice in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Carmen was born in Brawley, California in March 1928 to Ramon Ponce of Cuba and Maria Manzanero Ponce of Spain. She grew up in Denver, Colorado and Coachella, California. Carmen was crowned the first “Miss Coachella” in 1949. After attending the University of Mexico & Conservatory of Music, she returned to Coachella where she met and married Logan Cookson in 1957. They had four children. Carmen owned a successful dance studio and began her teaching career before the family relocated to La Crescenta in 1967. She continued teaching – first Spanish at Mt. Olive Lutheran School and then elementary at St. James for the next fifteen years. After the death of her husband she began teaching at Apperson Street Elementary School in Sunland and earned her teaching credential at the University of Northridge. In addition to teaching, she was the director of The Apperson Choraleers. She retired from Apperson at age 80. She always described teaching as her calling from God, and she was wholly dedicated to educating and nurturing her students. In 2012, she relocated to Pennsylvania and established her home base with her daughter Ana and family.

Carmen was saved in 1983 and later attended Faith Baptist Church in Canoga Park where she was baptized and was a faithful member for many years. She also considered Lehigh Valley Baptist in Pennsylvania and Berean Baptist in Georgia as her unofficial church homes. She was much loved by all 3 congregations.

Carmen in survived, and will be greatly missed, by her children, Mark Cookson of Illinois, Ana (Matthew) Connors of Pennsylvaniz, Rachel (Brendan) Foley of North Carolina, John Cookson and Chris Gurniak Cookson of California; 19 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Carmen’s home going service will be held on Saturday, February 25, 11:30 a.m. in Faith Baptist Church, South Campus, 22222 Saticoy St., Canoga Park, 91304. Interment will be on March 2, at 12 p.m. in Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District, 82925 Avenue 52, Coachella, 92236

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Carmen’s memory to the Roland Rasmussen Scholarship Fund via faithbaptist.org/give