DEE MARA "DEE" GONSER

DEE MARA (HOOPER) GONSER
December 9, 1960 ~ January 7, 2013

Dee Mara (Hooper) Gonser, 52, a life-long Clark County resident, passed peacefully on Jan. 7, 2013; surrounded by her loving husband Don, and her family. She was born on Dec. 9, 1960 to Arthur and Harriet Hooper. Dee attended Hudson's Bay High School and earned her GED from Clark College, where she also earned her Vocational and Associate of Arts Degrees. From there she went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree from Concordia University in Portland, and her MBA from City University in Seattle, WA. She accomplished her education while she worked full time and raised her family.
Dee worked hard providing for her family. She started her career at Clark College in the Registration Office. Later she moved to the Applied Technology Division where she served as Secretary Senior/Supervisor, as well as Co-President of the Association of Classified Employees. In 2000-2001, Dee was the recipient of "Exceptional Classified Staff Award, Clark College's Highest Classified Staff Honor for exemplary contribution to College excellence".
Next, she served as the Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Business and Technology. She met Don at the college and married her soul mate on July 18th, 2003.
From Clark College she went on to work for the City of Vancouver as a Management Analyst. Some of her responsibilities included Management of Central Records, Business Manager of The Senior Messenger and supervisor of the Print Shop. One of her last tasks for the City of Vancouver was to help facilitate the city's move from multiple locations into the new City Hall building.
While working for the city, Dee continued to teach as many as three business and management classes a quarter at Clark College until her illness was such that she could not continue. Dee was Excellence at its best.
Dee joined her husband Don, as a member and Secretary/Treasurer of Wind River Search and Rescue, and coordinated the printing and distribution of the team's newsletter, a major fundraiser for the organization. Just recently, she became an Amateur Ham Radio Operator.
Dee and Don were avid members of the C Dory boating community. Several times a year they would take their 25 foot C Dory boat named the Knotty C into the San Juan Islands to explore. They twice had the adventure of taking the Knotty C through the Inside Passage to Alaska, where they made friends all along the way. This past summer they again traveled to Alaska, but this time it was on the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl to celebrate their 9th anniversary.
One of her favorite activities was spending time with her family, friends, and her precious dogs around her. Laughter and singing was always
a big part of family gatherings.
Dee is survived by her husband, Don; daughter, Deema (Jeff) Funderburg; sons, Derrick (Jackie) Long and DJ (Cileania) Long; grandson, Duncan Long; mother, Harriet Hooper; sister, Colynn Nelson; brother, Arthur (Darcy) Hooper; as well as nieces, nephews, and a pile of dogs. All reside in Vancouver, WA.
She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Hooper; and grandson, Dashric Eugene Long.
A celebration of her life will be held Sat., Jan. 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at The Battle Ground Baptist Church, 1110 NE 6th Ave., Battle Ground, WA.
Donations can be made to the A.L.S. Association of SW Washington in her name.
Please sign her guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.