Mary Jane Cooper (Brammann), of Spanaway, WA, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully at 102 on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and unshakable spirit.

Born in Davenport, Iowa, to John Brammann and Vironda Campbell, Mary Jane was raised in Comanche, Iowa, by her maternal grandparents. Her childhood was shaped by her "tomboy" tendencies and included hunting, fishing, and playing ball! She came of age during the tumultuous years of World War II, a time that shaped her resilience and unwavering work ethic. From an early age, she embodied independence and determination - qualities that would define her life and inspire future generations.

A true trailblazer, Mary Jane was never content to sit still. Whether it was learning to drive a Ford Model A at 15 years old, making big moves across the country to follow her dreams, packing up for a road trip, or simply exploring nature, her sense of adventure never faded.

She had a deep, abiding love for nature, often found with binoculars in hand, marveling at birds and learning their unique songs. Mary Jane also had a deep love for baseball. She grew up playing hardball, played softball in "League of Their Own" style leagues in Texas and Washington, and watched women's college fastpitch throughout her life.

In the late 1940s, while exploring the area with friends, Mary Jane saw a small, one-lane bridge and decided to cross it. She found herself on Enchanted Island, a small, undeveloped island in the middle of Spanaway Lake. After purchasing a plot and building a home, she raised her children on the island and lived there for over 70 years. The island was a gathering place for the family throughout the decades and will always be a special place for her family.

Family was the cornerstone of Mary Jane's life. She was the proud and devoted Mother of three children: Penny Howard, Judi Knapp, Greg Cooper (Lisa), the loving and hands-on Grandmother to 10: Amanda Rodriguez (Daniel), Zach Howard (Dara), Dorr Overby, Hillary Jarcik (Chris), Grant Overby, Patrick Gallagher (McKenzie), Alex Viklund (Sarah Brown), Steven Cooper (Marisa Stirgus), Kevin Gallagher (Bryce), Katherine Gallagher (Alex Nowjack), and Great-Grandmother to ten.

Mary Jane Cooper's life was a testament to perseverance, joy, and the power of living fully. She leaves behind a family deeply grateful for her presence, humor, wisdom, willingness to share captivating stories of her life, and, mostly, her love. She will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.

A Celebration of Mary Jane's Life will be scheduled in May 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary Jane's honor to organizations she supported throughout her life: the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, or PBS.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Journal Scene from Sep. 22 to Sep. 24, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary Cooper

Sponsored by Neptune Society South Seattle.

5 Entries

Nita Fulwiler

September 24, 2025

Nita Fulwiler

September 24, 2025

From the moment I met Mary Jane in 1994, I felt an instant connection. When she came to The Birdfeeder, a wild bird, nature store that my husband and I opened in University Place, I met a friendly, very knowledgeable yet humble person who later became a very dear friend and mentor. She agreed to lead bird trips and taught some classes at the store. She was loved and respected by all those she came to know.
My mother had just passed away earlier that year and as time went on, I began to think of Mary Jane as my second Mom. We spent a lot of time on
outings both with groups and just the two of us. We
loved Mexican food and bakeries. Most trips with the groups included finding a local bakery.
I had been a casual birder before we met, but Mary Jane inspired me to become proficient in identifying birds both visually and by the bird calls and songs. Eventually, learning bird behavior became a passion all due to her great enthusiasm.
In recent years as she slowed down, outings were limited to her back yard. She loved to feed the Steller Jays who came immediately and take peanuts off her walker or knee.
I was truly amazed at her content attitude, and she seemed totally at peace when she became bedridden. She had a wonderful setting, prepared by her family in her front room. Looking out at the lake and the birds coming to several bird feeders, gave her joy.
I will miss her terribly and will never forget her. But I know she is now free to walk in God's garden and enjoy the vast beauty of His creation. I look forward to seeing her again one day.
My sincere condolences to Mary Jane's son, Greg, and her daughters, Penny and Judi. I also thank them for sharing their mom with me.
Lovingly, Nita Fulwiler

Bobbee

September 24, 2025

Will miss my special friend! Will especially miss sharing bird adventures and hearing about her family she enjoyed and cherished so much. She was a large part of my life exploring places, nature, and birds. My favorite story of her was pushing the old model T down the driveway after her grandparents had gone to bed. Then starting it up and heading out to pick up friends and have some fun!

September 23, 2025

Some of our favorite photos of Grandma

Hillary Jarcik

September 23, 2025

Grandma truly was one of a kind. Her spirit, love, and knack for captivating us through her stories will be forever missed. What an incredible life she lived!

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