Obituary: Stopher, M. Jay
Age 86
STOPHER,
M. Jay
February 9, 1930-
March 29, 2016
Jay was born on February 9, 1930 in Newcastle, WY to Earl and Leota Stopher.
Shortly thereafter the family moved to Gillette, Wyoming.
In May, 1948, Jay was graduated from Campbell County High School, where he played basketball.
It was during this time that he developed his life-long love for the game.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in July 1948, and was stationed at Kimpo AFB, South Korea and had to be evacuated when the Chinese joined forces with the North Koreans in December, 1950.
Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he enrolled at Nebraska State Teachers College in Chadron, Nebraska, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
He later furthered his education at EWU, Whitworth, the University of Montana, and the University of Idaho.
While attending college at Chadron, he met Muriel Walker and they were married in January, 1957 and spent 59 years together.
To this union were born two sons, Kelly (wife Sally) and Kevin.
In 1958 he began his teaching career at Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, Washington.
Affectionately nicknamed “Stoph” by his students, he taught in the business department for 31 years, until his retirement in 1989.
He also taught evening classes in Adult Basic Education at Spokane Community College for 40 years.
While at LC he served as varsity boys tennis coach for 17 years, freshman and JV basketball coach, and was the school’s first head girls basketball coach.
In his retirement years Jay enjoyed fishing, yard sales, breakfast with the LC retired men, and visiting the casino.
He and his family have enjoyed 45 years at their place at Sun Up Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Throughout his retirement, Jay was a fixture at LC Tiger athletic events.
In addition to his wife and two sons, he is survived by his grandchildren, Lauren and Kendal Stopher and Josette and Raleigh Johnson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, Earl Jr., and his sister, Evelyn.
A celebration of Jay’s life will be held Saturday, April 16th at 11:00 am at Central Lutheran Church, 512 S. Bernard.
A brief inurnment service, with full Military Honors, will be held on Monday, April 18th at 3pm at the Veterans Memorial Cemetary, Medical Lake, Washington.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to either Spokane Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS), 6815 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 or The M. Jay Stopher Benevolent Fund at any Washington Trust Bank branch.
Contributions to this fund will be applied to summer youth basketball camp scholarships at Underhill Park.