A Celebration of Life and the inurnment of Mary Virginia (Cooper) Engstrom will be held at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. Inurnment will follow at the family plot in the Rawlins Cemetery.
Mary was born in Rawlins on May 8, 1927 to Brady M. and Blanche (Lippert) Cooper. She was educated in Rawlins schools, graduating from Rawlins High in 1945. She attended Union College in Jackson, Tennessee where she was active in Zeta Tau Alpha and as a cheerleader. Returning to Rawlins she served as Carbon County Deputy Clerk Court.
She married Louis W. Engstrom on May 10, 1948. To that union were born three children, Marilyn, Kim and Joan.
Mary continued working part-time for the Clerk of Court and the County Clerk until 1969 when she began work with the Carbon County School District, serving as library assistant, school secretary and in the central office as secretary for the curriculum coordinator. She retired in 1987.
She was active in St. Thomas’ Church, serving as the first female Senior Warden, as Sunday School teacher and for many years as the coordinator of the Bereavement Committee. She had been a member of Daughter’s of the Nile, Order of the Eastern Star, PEO, and Sinclair Ladies Golf Association. She served as a 4-H leader and as an officer with the Wyoming Senior Women’s Golf Association. Some of her favorite times were her early morning bicycle rides with the BAWAAs and later with their sewing club. She enjoyed gardening, golf, skiing, sewing, knitting, cooking and line dancing.
Since 2011 she has made her home in Laramie with her daughter Marilyn, and at the Laramie Care Center until she entered Hospice of Laramie where she died on February 16, 2019.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 63 years, Louis; and son, Kim; her sister, Ruth Beller and brother, Charles Cooper. She is survived by her daughters, Marilyn Engstrom, Laramie; Joanie (Bob) Martino, Laramie; three grandsons, John (Lisa) Engstrom, Rawlins; Drew (Michelle) Engstrom, Midland, Texas; and Matthew Martino, Fort Lewis, Washington; three granddaughters, Misty (Chris) Dibble, Casper; Anna-Lisa Martino, Fargo, North Dakota; and Alexandra Martino, Laramie; and seven great grandchildren, Jena (Jeremy) Harris, Hannah Mika, Madeleine Mika, Emma Engstrom, Megan Engstrom, Haley Dibble and Brady Dibble; and three great great grandchildren, five nieces and two nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Cathedral Home for Children, 4989 N. 3rd St. Laramie, WY 82070 or Hospice of Laramie, 1754 Centennial Dr. Laramie, WY 82070.
Hello lady's, I enjoyed getting to know your mom and to be able to help take care if her. Mary did have a beautiful soul. She is missed. I am glad she is able to be free of this world and live a wonderful life beyond. God bless always. Rest in Paradise Mary.
Joanie & Marilyn, so sorry to hear about your Mom. She and your Dad Louie were the most wonderful Rawlins couple. I will always remember the visit Joe Crum and I had to your Mom's room in Laramie. We reminisced about the neighborhood and all the times she looked in on the Crum Boy's while Earl was on the railroad. She taught me to be a better person. Best to you two and your family as you go thru this difficult time. Tom Hembree
Thank you, Tom and Liz. Your comments were so sweet and lovely. We spent some time with Kress after the service. What a great family you are a part of. Fondly, Marilyn
Marilyn & Joanie, so sorry to hear about Mary. She & Louie were good family friends and always so enjoyable to visit. She was a pillar of the Rawlins community. Our sincere condolences. Clint & Michele (Baker) Carlton.
Thank you so much for your condolences.
Marilyn and Joanie, so sorry I can’t be in Rawlins with you to celebrate the life of your lovely, sweet mother, Mary. You know you are in my thoughts and prayers and we will see each other soon and laugh and cry and raise a toast to both Mary and Louie! I know you are currently supported well and will call soon. Love, Beck
Thanks for reaching out. Hope to talk soon.
Joanie and Marylin do sorry for your loss .In our thoughts and prayers. Mary was such a beautiful woman and so full of life we so enjoyed her.God bless you all Laura Gary and family
So sorry for your loss Joanie and Marylin you and your families are in our thoughts and prayers Thinking of you all. God Bless you all. Laura Gary Withrow and family
Your mother was a friend to my sister, Janet, at the Laramie Care Center. We are sorry for your loss. She will be missed.
Marilyn and family, I'm so very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a lovely lady . Everyone loved her. Just know that I am thinking about you all and sending you comforting thoughts and prayers. Donna Thompson