Marilyn Diane Cooper

Marilyn Diane Cooper passed away peacefully on January 12, 2024, at the age of 70, surrounded by her loving family. She faced a brief but courageous battle against both kidney cancer and scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease.

Marilyn was born on September 9, 1953, in Amarillo, Texas to parents Ervin and Sheila Yawn, the second eldest of six children.



From an early age, her passion for design was evident. What began as rearranging furniture in her parents' home blossomed into a lifelong career. She attended Columbia High School in Atlanta, Georgia, where her accolades were many. In 1975, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.F.A. in interior design.

For over 45 years, she parlayed her extraordinary eye into a thriving interior design business, Marilyn Bremer Interiors. Her talent and dedication to her craft were evident in every project she undertook, transforming blank spaces into beautiful homes.

Beauty was not only something she created, but something she embodied. From her radiant smile to her generous spirit, Marilyn found and cultivated beauty in everyone and everything around her.

Marilyn was always impeccably dressed and effortlessly elegant. She was a fabulous cook and a gracious hostess. She enjoyed fine wines and had an expert level palette. Her Christmas trees were works of art, and every present beneath it was perfectly wrapped. She loved traveling (particularly the luxury and leisure variety), design books, all flowers but especially peonies and dahlias, European history, and dancing. Her happy place was her home in Highlands, NC. She filled it with the things and people she loved most.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Brittany Bremer; sisters Elizabeth Mahaffey, Barbara Rasmussen, Lori Ferrero; brother David Yawn; nieces and nephews, Alaina Hood, Shelley Templeton, Derek Yawn, Garrett Maxedon, Dana Rogers, and Ali Ferrero; former husbands who remained dear friends, Gary Bremer and Tom Cooper; and her cherished dog and granddog, Emma and Cleo.

The family will be holding a private celebration of Marilyn's life on February 19. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

A loving mother, sister, and friend, she has left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her. While we will miss her greatly, Marilyn's legacy lives on through the beauty she brought to the world and the love she shared with those fortunate enough to be part of her life.