Mary Virginia Geesey

Mary Virginia Geesey passed away at the age of 96 on April 22, 2014. Mary Virginia (Mary V.) was born to Edith Brock Cooke and Homer L. Cooke in Idaho Falls, ID, on November 5, 1917. They lived for a time in the small town of Dubois, ID. Her brother, Frank, joined the family four years later.

The family moved to Rupert, Idaho where Mary V. completed her education in 1935. Upon graduation from high school she enrolled at Albion Normal School in Albion, ID, where she received a two-year teaching certificate in 1937. Her first teaching assignment was in a two-room school house at the age of 20. Mary V. then moved to American Falls, ID, where she taught for a short time. She then met and married Theodore (Ted) N. Geesey on June 1, 1941. In 1942 they welcomed their only child, Cheryle, to the family.

Mary V. attended many summer school and evening classes and eventually received a Bachelor of Arts in Education. In 1960 she earned a Master’s Degree in School Administration. She taught in the American Falls School district for 33 years doing a variety of jobs from high school speech teacher, to part-time secretary for the superintendent of schools, to a fifth-grade classroom teacher.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in American Falls and also participated in Toastmistresses. In 1967 she was initiated into Chapter U of the P.E.O. International Sisterhood in American Falls. Upon retirement Mary V. and Ted sold their home in American Falls and purchased a home in Sun City West, AZ, where they lived for several years. They also purchased a summer home in Seaside, OR, where they could escape the hot Arizona summers and be closer to their daughter, Cheryle.

Mary V. eventually transferred her P.E.O. membership to Chapter CR in Seaside. In 2003 Mary V. and Ted moved into Necanicum Village, an assisted living facility in Seaside, where Mary V. lived until the time of her death. Mary V. was preceded in death by her husband Ted in 2005. They had been married for 64 years. Also preceding her in death were her mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law. Through the years Mary V. enjoyed reading, square dancing, attending concerts and plays, sewing, learning to paint, traveling and volunteering. She also tried her hand at golf and bowling.

One of her fondest memories was of the family ice skating on the reservoir near American Falls. Mary V. had a great sense of humor and was sometimes a bit of an imp. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryle Barker and son-in-law Doug Barker, two nephews Gordon and Chuck Cooke, two nieces Dorothy Harrop and Sharon Hall, good friends Norma and Bud Painter, and her wonderful, caring family at Necanicum Village.