Cora Katherine (Beery) Harper was born in Spokane, Washington; the fourth of five children of Curtis C. and Sarah (Russell) Beery.
She graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High School in 1940 and was awarded a six week scholarship to a local art school to introduce her to a possible art career. She was unable to continue her art education at that time. She worked for the telephone company in Puyallup and painted seasonal graphics on a bakery window. She was a talented artist and spent many years throughout her life perfecting her talent.
In January 1946, she married Jack O. Harper in Puyallup; they made their home in the Seattle area and had three children. In the late 1950s, Cora worked for the city of Seattle as a parking enforcement officer. She was on one of the first 10-person “meter maid” crews.
In 1961, the family moved to Sherwood, Oregon. She worked in the berry and bean fields with her children in the summer. When her children were old enough to go to the fields unsupervised; she went to work for the Portland Canning Company as a line supervisor; and then Garrigus-Sherwood Lumberyard as an in-store clerk specializing in mixing paint colors. In the 1970s, she managed the food service for Sherwood High School.
In the early 1970s, Cora took oil painting classes from Shirley Olson and in the late 1980s she enrolled in classes from Vick Rivera at the Woodburn Art Center (Glatt House). Cora was a board member of the Woodburn Art Center and in January 2001 was a featured artist at the Glatt House Gallery.
She was an active member in PTA and American Field Service. In her retirement, she and her husband, Jack, enjoyed Volksmarching and traveling. She was also a member of the Retired United Airlines Employees Association; and made table decorations for their monthly meetings.
Cora was a hard-working, loving and kind person; devoted to her family and gracious and considerate to all. She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, and daughter, Susan Galyen. She is survived by her son, Wynn Harper and his wife, Carol; her daughter, Kimberlee Graves and her husband, Merrick; as well as four grandchildren: Amanda Harper-Phillips, Emily (Harper) Ward; Jennifer (Hagey) Honaker and Jack Hagey; and five great-grandchildren: Sophia, Clara, Mara, Sienna and Orion.
Donations in memory of Cora Katherine Harper may be made to Providence Hospice of Seattle.