February 07, 1923 - February 07, 2018
On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, Eileen Patricia (Maddox) Couper passed away on her 95th birthday. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Eileen was born on February 7, 1923, in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland to Jane Hyde (Glynn)Maddox and William Patrick Maddox. There she attended the Catholic parochial school of St. Peter and Paul Church where she graduated high school at the age of 16. She went on to business school in St. Johns, Newfoundland. There she met her future husband, an American soldier. They fell in love and after a short engagement were married on July 25, 1941 and were together for 72 years. Early in 1943 their first daughter was born. Later George was sent overseas to join Patton’s army and take part in the Battle of the Bulge. Eileen, with a toddler in tow and expecting their second daughter, traveled from Newfoundland and across the states to live with her mother-in-law in Wenatchee, Washington not knowing she would never see her parents again. There she gave birth to her second daughter. With the war finally over George came home and they moved to Spokane and Spokane Valley where their son and youngest daughter were born. Dad went to work for Kaiser Aluminum where he was a machinist for 35 years. After her children left home, she went to work as a nurse’s aide for Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home. She also took up golf and taught herself to play the guitar. Besides her family, music was her big love. She sang in the St Mary’s Choir for years and loved to entertain at social events with her husband. Every summer the family camped at Reeder Bay on Priest Lake, Id. Later she and her husband had a second home at Outlet Bay on the lake. There they enjoyed boating, huckleberry picking, snowmobiling, dirt bike riding, golfing and sing along around a fire. The whole family has many wonderful memories of the lake and the legacy lives on in the family. They retired in 1982 and began to spend winters in Arizona golfing, playing music and traveling. There they met many likeminded people from all over. When their traveling days were over they moved to a retirement home. After George passed away Eileen moved to Colonial Court where she spent out her last days. The family would like to express our deep appreciation for the exceptional care and love she received from Colonial Court and Hospice of Spokane. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents Jane H. Maddox and William P. Maddox, her husband George B. Couper, two sisters, Genevieve Harrison, Alberta (Bertha) Leo, two brothers, William Maddox and Walter Maddox. Two grandsons Terry Jerman and Christopher Richardson. Special in-law Bonnie Rapkin (George II) She is survived by four children Josephine (Joy) P. Cline (Gary), Barbara J. Richardson (Mike), George B. Couper II, Victoria E. Smith (Don Chappell). Six grandsons, two granddaughters, 15 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held for Eileen at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (S. 304 Adams Rd., Spokane Valley, WA) on March 3, 2018 at 10:00 AM. Immediately followed by a lunch reception in the church’s Adult Center. Internment at St Joseph Cemetery (Trentwood, WA) will be at a later date. Memorial contributions, in her name, can be made to Hospice of Spokane (PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210)
