Erlene Cooper

Edna “Erlene” E. E. Cooper, 91, of Yakima, Washington, passed away peacefully in September at her daughter Christi’s house, with her daughter and son-in-law, Chris, by her side.

Erlene was born September 16, 1934, in Yakima, Washington, to Leona Edna and Dave “Earl” Wheaton. She was the youngest of four daughters, Phyllis Leona, Barbara “Pauline”, and Patricia Mae “Patty”. After her father, Earl, passed away, Leona remarried Frank Weston Hastings and had a half-brother, Robert Louis Hastings.

Erlene was a high school senior when she decided to move out of her family’s home in Yakima Washington. Her sister, Patricia “Patty” Mae Lyons Corcoran, and her husband, Pat, both worked and needed help caring for their son, Michael William Corcoran, “Mikey.” Erlene always joked that her sister Patty “conned” her when she “invited” her to live with them. Erlene and Mike built an everlasting bond during that time together, and over the years they shared those memories. Mike will forever be thankful for how she cared for him and the connection they made. She was always so much more than a babysitter; she kept him safe when they shared a room.

While in Seattle, Erlene met Ron Cooper, and they began dating. Ron enlisted in the Air Force, was stationed in Valdosta, Georgia, and invited her to visit. Erlene took the Amtrak to meet Ron; he proposed, and they married at Berrien County Courthouse, Nashville, Georgia, by the Justice of the Peace, May, 1953. While living there, Erlene was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Erlene’s greatest joy was her children, Tomme Lynne, Suzanne Christine “Christi,” and Daniel Loren. She took great pride in her work, first as an operator at Pacific Telephone in Seattle, then as the Secretary to the Chief of Security at the Boeing Company. She also worked part-time at Zion Lutheran Church in Everett, where she used her typing skills to create the weekly bulletin and newsletter for members and visitors.

She was a devoted mother who spent hours rocking each of her “babies” and always wanted to ensure they knew they were loved. Erlene was an independent child, and after losing her Dad at age 3, she always desired love from those around her. She loved making people laugh and enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and gambling throughout her life!

Erlene was devastated in 1996, losing her husband Ron to cancer, followed in 1997 by the loss of her eldest daughter, Tomme Lynne, to cancer. In 2024, she lost her only son, Daniel “Dan” Loren, to a chronic heart condition. Erlene loved traveling to Louisville, Kentucky, to see Dan and visit her grandchildren, Dan’s two children, Alexandra Loren “Alex” and Nicholas Joseph “Nick,” who lived there. Her remaining daughter, Christi, was fortunate enough to spend many hours finding adventures, enjoying each other, and enjoying life.

Erlene is survived by her daughter Christi and son-in-law Chris; grandchildren Nick and Alex; her husband, Tommy Biscardi; her great-granddaughter, Cassandra Kumiko Biscardi; her nephew, Mike Corcoran, and his wife, Gay Schreiber Corcoran; her great-niece, Kelly, and her husband, Cory Owens; and her great-great-nephew, Elias Roy.

In 1998, Erlene moved back to Yakima, where she grew up and lived for 27 years, until 2025, when she moved to the La Conner Retirement Inn. She had many friends in Yakima, including Lefty Lizotte and his family, Ken Cooper and his family, and Karen, Kathy, Martin, Judy, and Beth, whom she loved for all their kindness and friendship. Erlene was a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Lake Stevens from 1964 until her death.

While Erlene lived at the La Conner Retirement Inn, she met and shared a lunch and dinner table with her new friends Irene, Grace and Jo, and looked forward to many games of Bingo and Golf with her card and game-playing friends Jo, Bertha, Ginny, Judy, Tim and Nancy, and her feisty friend Lee and his dog Rosie, who she loved to banter back and forth with. A huge thank you to La Conner Retirement Inn staff Jenny, Kathy, Allie, Debbie, Donna, and Stacy for the kindness shown to Erlene, and to all the thoughtful and caring staff. She loved her time there, even though brief.

The Retirement Inn hosted a celebration of her life, and she will be interred in the Spring at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Everett, joining her immediate family, her husband, Ron, and her daughter, Tomme. Donations may be made in her memory to Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Lake Stevens, where she was proudly a member since the 1960’s, and where all three of her children were baptized and confirmed.

One of Christi’s most precious moments with her mom was visiting her at her apartment at La Conner Retirement Inn. Erlene said to Christi, very seriously, “Don’t look now and be very still; there is a Bobcat right behind you!” Christi replied, “Thank you for letting me know, but you know he is not really there, right?” Mom belly laughed and replied, “Yes, I know, but you should see how beautiful his coloring is!”

“Spirit in the sky, that is where I’m going when I die.” Rest peacefully with the Spirit, Mom; until we are together again.

To share memories of Erlene, please sign the online guest register for Erlene, www.evanschapel.com/obituary/erlene-cooper