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Mary Elizabeth Cook lived her entire life in the house where she was born on Fifth Street in Beaver. After two years at Indiana Normal she graduated Cum Laude at the University of Pittsburgh, and also had a summer at the University of London. Her teaching career of nearly half a century started at Monaca, then Beaver, McKeesport and back to Beaver in the 1920's as a history teacher and later as principal. Because of her ability to maintain discipline coupled with a deep concern for the individual, she was named Director of Extra Curricular Activities at prestigious Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh. Always ahead of her time, she found opportunities to speak out for racial equality in many engagements as a popular toastmistress and speaker. Her volunteer activities included teaching Sunday School and the Missionary Societies of the Presbyterian Church, Woman's Club, Garden Club, and as president of the Book and Quota Clubs.