Mary Maude Copple

Mary Maude Copple was born in Spokane, Washington to June Benson and Elbert Copple. She grew up on the Copple family apple farm in Okanogan, Washington and graduated salutatorian from Okanogan High School. Mary attended Whitman University and the University of Puget Sound, earning a degree in education. In 1963, Mary moved to Molokai, Hawaii to teach in a one room school. She kept Hawaii in her heart for the rest of her life. Later, Mary taught English, history and politics in Spokane, working at Gary Middle School, Rogers High School, and Ferris High School. She earned a master's degree in education from Eastern Washington University in 1988 and spent the next twelve years teaching adult basic education for the Community Colleges of Spokane. She worked the majority of her career in the Hillyard Neighborhood and was passionate about education.

Mary raised her daughter, Katherine, near Spokane's Comstock Park in a house she lived in for nearly forty years. She was a staple of the neighborhood, and her piano playing could often be heard. Family was the most important thing in Mary's life. She regularly drove to Okanogan on weekends and vacations to spend time with her parents, siblings, niece, and nephews. She loved buying books for her grandchildren, sending a new one every month. Mary Maude is predeceased by her parents and brother, E. Benson Copple. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Katherine and Geoffrey Potter, grandchildren, Gwyn and Skye Potter, her sister and brother-in-law, Addie and Jim Lane, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, January 11th at 9:00am. Graveside service will be at the Omak City Cemetery in Omak, Washington, on Saturday, January 11th at 2:00pm. A reception will be held in Spokane that evening at 6:00pm, location TBD. A continuing education scholarship is being established in Mary's name for graduating students of Rogers High School. To contribute, go to https://gofund.me/9acff268

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