Obituary: Cooney, Marguerite R.
Age 98
She was born in Ontario, Oregon September 29, 1914.
She graduated from high school in Ontario and attended college in Connecticut.
She returned to Oregon and attained her teaching degree at Eastern Oregon College.
She taught school in Umatilla, Oregon until she met John L. Cooney.
They were married July 4, 1939 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane.
Her husband worked his way through law school and served many years in the Washington State Senate.
Marguerite and John had four children.
Marguerite obtained further teaching degrees in Eastern Washington College and thereafter taught class piano at numerous Spokane public schools.
She also taught hundreds of students piano at her home in north Spokane.
She was a 63 year member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church where she weekly sang in the choir.
Marguerite closely followed politics and was a longtime member of the League of Women Voters and the Jane Jefferson Club.
She also had a passion for playing bridge throughout the Spokane area.
She hosted many large family gatherings with her beloved family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Stella Cox; her brother, Lewis; her sister, Clementine Thomas and son-in-law, Ted Byers.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses: John and Roselie, Rita Cooney and Hal Blegen, Margaret Byers and Jim and Harvelyn.
Also surviving are her sister, Virginia Brooke of Portland; sister-in-law, Charlene Cooney; brother-in-law, Ted Baumeister of Portland; 13 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family extends a special thank you to Horizon Hospice for their loving care to Marguerite, especially nurse Tracy, Stephanie and Geoff.
A Rosary Vigil Service will be held Sunday, November 25, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4420 N. Jefferson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, November 26, at11:00 a.m. with Father Michael Blackburn, OFM, celebrating.
A luncheon will follow the service at the church hall.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Poor Clare Nuns, 4419 N. Hawthorne, Spokane 99205 or a charity of your choice.
Please visit Marguerite’s online tribute and leave a condolence at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.