Helen Virginia Ross Larkin died on June 2 in Los Gatos. She was 92.

Larkin was a California native and grew up in San Diego, where she graduated from San Diego State University. She received a master's degree from UC-Berkeley and lived in the Los Gatos area for the last 20 years of her life.

Larkin had many interests and careers, working as a teacher, social worker, and supervisor with the U.S. Census Bureau. She was a life member of the PTA, a Girl Scout leader and camp director and was state treasurer for the Republican Central Committee.

Locally, Larkin was involved with the Saratoga Federated Church, the Republican Women's Club, and the Foothill Club. She spent her last few years at the Los Gatos Meadows, where she was known for her bright and alert personality.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia and Mike Bowman of Saratoga and Janet and Randy Krassow of Santa Cruz, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Private services have been held. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Santa Cruz Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 873, Santa Cruz 95061 or to the American Cancer Society at 1715 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 100, Campbell 95008.


Cook

Emery Alan Cook died on May 17 in Los Gatos. He was 85.

Born in Chicago, Ill., on April 30, 1918, Cook was raised in Denver, Colo. After a brief move to New Mexico, his family returned to Colorado, where he graduated from high school. After attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, he transferred to UC-Berkeley, where he graduated with degrees in political science and economics.

Cook was a pilot for the U.S. Air Force in 1941, flying in World War II and later in the Korean War. During his career as an officer, he was a nuclear bomb commander and professor of air science at San José State University. He retired from the military in 1962, and became a community relations manager for IBM until 1979. He lived in Los Gatos and was a member of the Rotary Club, on the board of the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley, director of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, member of Holiday Circle, and was honored as Man of the Year by the city of San Jose in 1979.

Cook was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Bird Cook, and child, Corry Cook. He is survived by his second wife, Margaret Whiting Cook, daughters Judy Seropan and Jennifer Tate, son-in-laws Milt Seropan and Steve Tate, stepson Bill Whiting and wife Kate, step-daughter Margaret Smith and husband Neal, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service in his honor will be held on June 21 at 1 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, 16375 Shannon Road, Los Gatos. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maryknoll Mission, Dept. WEB, P.O. Box 307, Maryknoll, N.Y., 10545-0307.


Pierce

Nancy Elsman Pierce died at her home in Puyallup, Wash., on May 31. She was 73.

The daughter of Florence E. and Ralph Elsman Pierce, she was born on Sept. 13, 1929, and grew up in Los Gatos. After moving from Los Gatos, she lived in several states, including Hawaii, Arizona, and Washington.

She is survived by her son Mark Pierce of Spokane, Wash., her daughter Beth Steeves of Puyallup, Wash., stepsons David of Mukilteo, Wash., and Larry Pierce of Seattle, Wash., stepsister Muriel Cleveland of Eagle Point, Ore., and eight grandchildren.

At her request, her ashes will be combined with those of her late husband, Russell Pierce, and scattered among the redwoods in Northern California.