Small-Town Living, Rustic Roots: Meet Tyrene Cook – Part 2

After moving to Gypsum, Tyrene’s family began the long, meaningful work of building her parents’ home—a house that still stands today as her childhood home. During construction, space was limited, and the family did what they had always done: they made it work.

Her parents lived in a truck camper. Her sister and her family stayed in a small trailer. And Tyrene, just 11 years old at the time, lived in a small shed-like structure, using an outdoor outhouse. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real life—built on grit, teamwork, and the shared goal of creating something lasting together. Eventually, the family moved into the completed home, a place filled with memories that still carry deep meaning, even after the passing of both of Tyrene’s parents.

In 1997, Tyrene graduated from Eagle Valley High School. During her senior year, she and Brian—yes, that Brian—had dated. After graduation, their paths went separate ways, as young lives often do while trying to figure out what comes next.

Not long after, Tyrene began dating her first husband, the father of her children. In August of 1997, at just 18 years old, Tyrene learned she was expecting her first child. That moment marked a major turning point—one that would shape her strength, resilience, and sense of responsibility for the rest of her life.

In April of 1998, Tyrene welcomed her first daughter, Ashley, into the world. With her arrival, Tyrene—still a young woman—stepped fully into motherhood, doing her best to pave the way and lay a strong foundation with the tools, knowledge, and strength she had at the time.