Mary “Pauline” Copenhefer
Mary “Pauline” Copenhefer died at age 92 at home in Woodland, March 10, 2010, after fighting cancer for three years.
Pauline was born to Lily and Thomas Conlee in Goldendale, on Christmas Eve. Dec. 24,1917.
Pauline was raised on a Pleasant Valley ranch in Klickitat County during the Depression with her sister Violet Conlee Norris (deceased) and brother Charles Thomas Conlee (Leona) of Vancouver. She graduated from Goldendale High School in 1935 and married Byron West Copenhefer; they were married for 70 years. They lived all their lives in Klickitat County including Wishram, Klickitat, Centerville, and Goldendale, until retiring to Woodland in 1979.
Pauline was a 20th century superwoman; she “did it all”—wife, mother, homemaker, and career woman. She always said she could do everything “faster and better,” and she did. Pauline started her career in the Klickitat County Treasurer’s Office in 1950, and eventually was elected as treasurer. She worked a total of 28 years. She was active in the Republican Party, Rebekah Lodge, American Business Women’s Association, Goldendale Gardening Club, and a life-long member of the Baptist Church. She also enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, all kinds of needlecrafts, cooking and baking, oil painting, boating and fishing, and snowmobiling. During their retirement years, Pauline and Byron enjoyed traveling by motor home to Arizona for 10 winters and two trips to Alaska.
Her husband, Byron, preceded her in death.
Pauline is survived by three daughters, Linda (Carl) Goetz of Woodland, Karen Gustafson of Ellensburg, and Brenda (Ken) Hoctor of Centralia; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and her beloved dog, Mindy.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 1 p.m. at Green Mountain Baptist Church, 8314 NE Spurrel Road, Woodland, with Pastor David Couto officiating. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 27, at the IOOF Cemetery in Goldendale, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Ken Akins officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice SW or the Green Mountain Baptist Church.
Woodland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
