Obituary of Jacqueline Burt Cooper

Jacqueline Burt Cooper, born July 17, 1924, passed away peacefully at Providence Centralia Hospital on April 4, 2019, four days after an ischemic stroke. During the vigil, she was surrounded by family in the hospital and on the phone who held her and spoke lovingly of her importance to them. 

 

She had lived the most honest of lives, always kind and caring to everyone she knew. It would have been difficult to dislike a colorful and fun personality like she had.  She had a full and remarkable life of nearly 95 years!  She was active to the end.

 

Jackie was born the fourth of five children to Dorothy (Taylor) and James Burt, in Atlantic City New Jersey. She grew up at the beach, swam in the ocean and played beach volleyball. In high school, she played volleyball and golf, but the golf was her lifelong passion.

 

She married LTJG Leonard Wayne Cooper II, and they moved to Warrenton, Oregon, where Len was stationed as Commander of the Naval Air Station.  First child, April, was born there.  Following his military duty, they relocated to Portland, Oregon, where sons, Wayne and Jame, were born.

 

They started Len Cooper Lumber Company, with a mill and two retail lumber yards in the Portland area.  The success of the business enabled them to take two years off to travel to Mexico and Central America, giving their children an interesting education while still in grade school.

 

Returning to the U.S., they settled in San Clemente, California, where they owned and operated The Seashore Motel and apartments at the pier. As their children graduated high school, the couple returned again to the Pacific Northwest to retire on Lake Oswego in Oregon and to play golf, badminton, and water ski.  They hand-built a cabin at Mt. Hood Meadows so they could cross-country ski, snowshoe, and have a fun place for children and grandchildren to visit.

 

When Len passed away, Jackie moved to Kona, Hawaii for ten years and played lots of golf, before returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2009 to be closer to family.  She was so blessed to have a healthy life and a wonderful family.

 

Jackie is survived by her 96-year-old sister, Marjorie of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter, April of Chehalis, Washington; sons, Wayne (Debbie) of Capistrano Beach, California, James of Bangkok, Thailand; and grandchildren, Sabrina (Ken) and Cassandra of Chehalis, Calvin (Tiffany) of Capistrano Beach, MacKenzie (Brent) of San Clemente, California, and Ann of Sacramento, California; great-grandchildren, Kendra and Jackson of Chehalis, Cole and Emma of Capistrano Beach, Mollie and Hattie of San Clemente, and Justin, Victoria and Danielle of Sacramento; and beloved nieces, nephews and their children in Alaska, South Carolina, Tennessee and the Florida Keys.

Jackie's family would like to acknowledge the medical help she received over many years from Anthony Fritz MD and Tina, Procedure Nurse at Steck Medical Clinic, and give thanks to her caregiver, Maryln.  Also, deep thanks to the Providence Centralia Hospital Palliative Care Team. 

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