Susan Cooper, of Mount Vernon, died June 26, 2023 in Mt. Vernon,  Born December 19, 1930 in St. Louis MO, Claudia Sue, to Guy and Lucille Faulkner. When she was 10, her parents moved to Houston Texas prior to Susan's only sibling, sister Barabra Dale was born. Growing up, Susan spent her time with both music and dance activities, playing saxophone in school band/orchestra, and ballet and tap lessons.  Junior High added the position of Majorette, and the honor of being chosen May Queen!

She was quite proud that, as a young child, she had known Charles Lindberg, General Jimmy and Marie Doolittle, and Jimmie Angel (namesake of Angel Falls in Venezuela), who were all close friends of her parents due to her father's working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

After graduating in 1948, she returned to Houston in 1949, where she worked in banking and accounting.  Having continued with dance, she moonlighted as a dance instructor and occasional performer, with Fronie Asher in Oklahoma City and Emmamae Horn in Houston.  Two marriages produced three children, who were very precious to her.  In 1958 she was one of the founders, and the original Treasurer, of the Greater Houston Civic Ballet Company where she taught alongside Patsy Swayze and knew Patrick Swayze as a young child.  In 1959 she moved to California, where she worked in accounting and taught dance while living in Santa Maria, La Puente, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Mountain View, California.

She married Von Cooper and moved to Mount Vernon WA in 1966.  Until his untimely death in 1980, they enjoyed an active, fun-filled life with many friends. Susan established very close & meaningful friendships during those years (primarily the Birthday Club).  In the 1970s Susan was active in helping Von develop Lake Conner Park, a camping club out of Lake Stevens WA. They also greatly enjoyed entertaining and their travels to tropical locations in Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Susan Cooper School of the Dance was opened in 1967 and Susan enjoyed 18 successful years of operation, selling it to her students, Kelly (Swett) Fellers and Shelly (Lowe) who later changed the name to Skagit Valley Academy of Dance.  Susan served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Northwest Region of Dance Educators Inc. and later became a life-member.

Raising her children as Christians was very important to Susan, and they were involved in many church activities.  She sang in the choirs of Episcopal Churches in Houston suburb Bellaire, TX, Menlo Park CA and later alongside her daughter, Giselle, in Mount Vernon WA.  In more recent years, she was on several different committees at the Mount Vernon St. Paul's which was very dear to her.

Thru the years, Susan's spare time was focused on child-oriented or community activities, as she served on several P.T.A. Boards, as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, was Secretary/Treasurer of the Mount Vernon Y.M.C.A. Swim Team Parents Club, choreographed numerous musicals for Mount Vernon High School, and co-coached an Odyssey of the Mind group at Mount Vernon Centennial School.

Susan enjoyed bowling for 40+ years, and also enjoyed needlework, entertaining, reading, crossword puzzles, word and board games, gourmet cooking and baking. Attending the theatre and fine dining were always at the top of her most enjoyable to-do list!  The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was of special interest, serving as Sanctioned Events Chair, Little Miss Tulip Chaperone, Pageant Coordinator and on the Poster Unveiling Committee.

Beginning in 2009, she was quite proud of her involvement and responsibilities with the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, enjoying coordinating the annual golf tournaments, social events, and as an Ambassador (2017 Chair). Greeting visitors as a weekly Chamber Visitors Information Center Volunteer, Chair of several annual "Jump Into Summer" events and Volunteer Coordinator of all the "Wine & Beer Festivals" and "Chili Cook-Offs" until 2022. Receiving the 2012 Bernie Award, 2017 Ambassador of the Year, and Honorary Lifetime Membership in 2021.

Susan also volunteered at numerous annual Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC) events, and the Skagit Valley Highland Games for the Celtic Arts Foundation for many years. Susan was a member of Mount Vernon Women of the Moose Lodge #1640, the Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation, and served as Vice-President of the Bellingham WA-based Northwest Ballet Theatre Board of Directors.  She served on the Board of Directors of Skagit Friendship House for 6+ years, always with the focus on relieving the ongoing Skagit County critical homeless situation.

For several decades she worked toward the acceptance and construction of a local performing arts facility.  She was a founder and co-chair of the Tri-County Arts Council in the early 1980s.  She served as President of the Skagit Cultural Center Association (SCCA) until it merged with Skagit Performing Arts Council (SPAC), continuing the SPAC Board of Directors, serving as Treasurer in 2002.  The completion of McIntyre Hall Performing Arts & Conference Center was the fulfillment of her dreams - she often referred to it as "her baby".

During 18 years of service on the Skagit Valley College Foundation Board of Governors, she served as Treasurer and then President. She volunteered at the college's fundraisers from 1981 to 2000, and 2007 & 2008.  She was the Emeritus status was bestowed on her in 2005, and again in 2020.   Serving on the Scholarship Committee for most of those years and more recently on the Sue Krienen Early Learning Childcare Center committee.

Susan obtained her REALTOR® license and joined the Skagit County Association of REALTORS® (SCAR) in 1989, which merged with the North Whidbey Association in 2001, becoming North Puget Sound Association of REALTORS® (NPSAR).  She was a consistent Multi-Million Dollar Producer with Century 21 Valley Homes (now RE/MAX Valley Homes) and Prudential Skagit REALTORS® in Mount Vernon.  As part of a visionary group she was one of 8 REALTORS® who broke away and formed a branch office of the international franchise, Realty Executives, in Burlington WA in 2005.  After a decision to close that office      In 2010, she transferred to Preview Properties Skagit; the company became a franchise branch in 2018, as NextHome Preview Properties, where she remained until retirement as a REALTOR® on 11/01/21!

Beginning in 1989 Susan served on SCAR/NPSAR committees and especially enjoyed the annual Golf Tournament fundraiser benefitting Habitat for Humanity and Skagit Friendship House.  She was a Board Director most years and held every office.  Her major on-going focus was promoting knowledge and adherence to the Code of Ethics, established by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), and she was proud to chair the Grievance and/or Professional Standards Committees for many years.

Susan also acquired the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) achieved by only 3% of REALTORS® nationally, Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI), Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and PREA e-Certified designations.  She was also a member of the Commercial Brokers Association (CBA).

Susan served on the Washington Association of REALTORS® (WAR) Board of Directors and sat on several committees, chairing the Finance Committee as WAR Treasurer in 2001 and as Professional Standards Chair in 2007.   She served on several of the WA State Chapter CRS Board of Directors committees and as an Area Representative/Networking Director 2006 thru 2021.  She chaired the 2009 Chapter of the Heart Committee, with the focus on benefitting Habitat for Humanity, and as 2015 – 2017 Programs & Awards Chair.

Susan was greatly honored to receive the WAR 1997 Community Service Award and the WAR 1999 Achievement Award.  She also received the WA State Chapter CRS Community Service Award in 1998, the 2012 WA State Chapter CRS of the Year Award, and CRS Certificate of Appreciation in 2017 for 20 years of service. Susan was the humble recipient of several SCAR & NPSAR awards: the President's Award in 1990, 2000 and 2008; Community Service Award in 1993, Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and 2018, and REALTOR® of the Year in 1997.  She was greatly honored to be the recipient of the NPSAR 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mentoring was an especially gratifying endeavor in her life, which she exhibited as both a dance instructor and REALTOR®.

Preceding her in death were her parents Guy & Lucille Faulkner; sister, niece and nephew Barb, Carrie and Bryan Lee; Step-daughter Debbie Cooper Fox; step-son Jay Cooper; and husbands Jack H. Allen Sr. , Sedford (Mac) Magee, Harold Dee, Von Cooper and Arnie Kjarstad.

Susan is survived by her sons, Jack H. Allen, Jr. of Palm Desert CA and Jerald Allen of Bow WA; daughter, Giselle (Jim) Murphy of Chehalis WA; Grand-children Dustin (Tia) Detillion of Silverdale WA, Danielle (B.J.) Mortensen of Chehalis WA, Joseph (Michele) Tyler of Simpsonville SC, Jaclyn Allen and Dawn (Allen)Falls of Spokane Valley WA, Taylor Allen of Black Hawk CO, Brooke Allen of Irvine CA.; Great Grandchildren Marissa, Emilee, & Gracie Van De Grift, Saige Mortensen, Brodie & Logan Tyler, Haileigh Allen, Analysse Regan, Nikolas Brown; Great-Great-Grandsons Jackson Rodriguez and Josiah Lopez; Great-Great-Granddaughter Tehya Harris; Brother-in-law Steve Lee,  Cousin Ann Wiswell, Great-nieces Brittany Rimmer and Adrian Schmidt, Great-Great niece Addison Beech.

Susan will be laid to rest joining her parents and her husband, Von Cooper at Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon WA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to a fund to be established in her name at Skagit Friendship House, P. O. Box 517, Mount Vernon WA 98273; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 415 S. 18th St., Mount Vernon, 98274; McIntyre Hall Endowment Fund, or Skagit Valley College Foundation, 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, 98273.  These were all very close to her heart!

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 14, 2023 at 2:00pm at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA.

Please visit www.hawthorefh.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest registry.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA.