Eva Mae Cooper

1922 - 2014

Eva Mae Cooper

September 15, 1922 ~ April 23, 2014

Eva Mae (Moore) Cooper died in Seattle on April 13, 2014, a beautiful day in the city she loved for 91 years. Passing from this life on Palm Sunday is particularly befitting for Eva, a lifelong Methodist.

Eva was born in Seattle on September 15, 1922 to Ray and Mae Moore. Her childhood was in Riverton Heights. She graduated from Foster High School where she met her future husband Laren "Coop" Cooper, who courted Eva on his motorcycle - until her father put his foot down! - and then serenaded his "Little Eva" throughout 58 years of marriage. After WWII, Eva and Coop lived for many years in Rainier Beach, where they raised two daughters Diane and Janet. They were faithful members of Rainier Beach Methodist Church, and frequently enjoyed outdoor activities with the Rainier Beach Rapellers and Belayers.

Eva was an excellent cook and seamstress, and masterful at needlework and stamp art. Her card sense for bridge (and even poker) came from her father Ray, who also fostered her love of local sports. Even late in life she enthusiastically followed the Huskies, Mariners and Seahawks. And she was a proudly progressive Democrat, thrilled at the diversity reflected in the election of our president Barak Obama.

After childrearing, Eva worked for many years in the Roxbury District Court in Burien. She and Coop were avid travelers, making many trips to the UK and European countries, and even to the Great Wall of China.

Eva's home for a dozen years was Bayview Manor, where she treasured sunsets over Elliott Bay, played bridge with friends, created her stamp art, and spent time with readings in Celtic spirituality. And even at age 90 she learned to use an iPad to continue Sudoku and word puzzles.

Eva especially loved spending time with her extended family, who already miss her dearly. Eva's two daughters are Diane Ruebel (Tom) and Janet Cooper both of Camano Island. She is survived by three grandchildren: Brian Ruebel of Seattle; Mark Ruebel (Ellen Butzel) of Seattle; and Amanda Baker (Kurt Wagner) of Jersey City, NJ; and by great-granddaughter Stella Mae Rose Ruebel of Seattle. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Coop and sister Eileen McCulloch.

Memorial gifts in Eva's name are suggested to Bayview Employees Holiday Fund (c/o Bayview Retirement Community Business Office, 11 W Aloha St, Seattle, 98119) or Kubota Garden Foundation (through the Seattle Foundation at http://bit.ly/1txLzBX).

"We are each of us - every single one of us - meant to be a lens for truth that we ourselves cannot see." - Christian Wyman