Marye S Cooper

Marye Faye Skelly Cooper was born in 1926 and passed away on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in Brewster, WA. Marye was born in Los Angeles, CA, and her family moved to Sycamore, IL, when she was nine years old. Marye was active in student government in college, and left Sycamore, in 1948, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. She made her way to Richland, WA, and the Hanford Site, after she had been intrigued by what two professors had told her about the work being done there. She applied and obtained a position in Essential Materials and Research Analysis, analyzing samples in the chemistry lab. Marye arrived by train at Wallula Gap during the flood of 1948, and the flooded river stopped the train. She climbed a hill to reach a bus, and was taken to Pasco, from where she was flown in a small plane across the Columbia River to her lodgings in Richland. It was her first plane ride ever. At Hanford, Marye enjoyed athletics and participated in basketball, golf, tennis, baseball, and swimming. At a dormitory dance she met Cal Cooper, an entomologist at Hanford, and they were married in 1952. They later moved to the Pateros area and raised apples and other fruit at the Cooper family orchards there. Marye worked in the orchard business and in other jobs, and commuted to Spokane, WA, to earn a Masters in Applied Behavioral Science degree at Whitworth College. She taught classes at Wenatchee Valley Community College North, and gave a variety of workshops in the area of behavioral science. During her life, Marye earned a real estate license, worked at her church’s food bank, and studied photography and maintained a darkroom. She made movies and photographed weddings, and documented family events and local events such as the building of Wells Dam. Marye was active for many years at St. James Episcopal Church in Brewster. She was curious about spiritual matters and attended Diocesan meetings and Women of the World Council of Churches conferences, and pursued her interest in human potential by participating in book groups and forming a group of women with similar interests at her church. Marye enjoyed bowling for many years. She stayed active into her 90s, and swam, went to the gym, skied well into her 70s, travelled widely in Europe and North America and spent many winters in Mexico. She was, quite literally, fearless. Her love of travel was a hallmark of her desire to experience as much of life as she could. Marye is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cal; daughter, Carla; sister, Jean; brother, Paul, and is survived by son, Craig (Becky) Cooper; daughter, Colleen (Tom) Muller; son-in-law, Jeff Sowder; son, Clark Cooper; and grandchildren: Nick Sowder and Laurel (Xavier) Lemon, Caleb Cooper and Emily (Ted) Uecker, Megan and Amy Muller. Megan has been in Brewster for three years, making Marye’s last years of life as beautiful and as active as possible. Marye was able with Megan’s help to attend sporting events, concerts, and to enjoy live music at local wineries. To the end, Marye would rather “go somewhere,” and Megan and other family members in the area made that possible for her. We are all grateful for this added enjoyment in Marye’s life, and to the staff at Harmony House for their excellent care and true compassion. A life of 98 years, especially one as full as Marye’s, is not easily summarized. She lived and enjoyed life to the fullest, met adversity with courage, was a delight and blessing to know, and leaves a legacy of strength, perseverance, intelligence, curiosity, and most importantly, love. A Celebration of Marye's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16,2024 at Grace Bible Church, 1113 West Indian Avenue, Brewster. Memorial donations may be made in Marye's name to the Brewster Food Bank, 301 4th Street, Brewster, 98812. Please leave your thoughts and memories at www.barneschapel.com

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Marye S Cooper

May 16, 1926 - September 17, 2024