Myrna Rae McDougal

Myrna McDougal passed away September 19, 2023 in Corvallis, Oregon. She was born Myrna Rae Cooper in Overton, Nevada on December 30, 1934. She was the oldest of six children born to Thomas Knox Cooper and Udine Winn Cooper. The family moved to Idaho in 1946 where they farmed and later had a grocery store in Nampa. Myrna graduated from Nampa High School in 1953. Even as a teenager, Myrna loved clothes and shoes. She was a talented seamstress and made her own suit for graduation. To her father’s dismay, she had over 60 pairs of shoes to choose from to match the suit. Myrna had a long career in banking. Her first bank job was handing out monthly account statements to customers but she held many other jobs including teller, auditor, branch manager, and Vice President. She worked at Idaho First National Bank, Bank of Idaho, B.M. Behrends Bank, Bank of the North, US Bank and Key Bank. She married Theodore Melvin (Mel) McDougal on June 11, 1955 in Nampa. They had four children, Mary Ramona (Mona), Micheal Melvin, Russell Jay and Daniel Ray. The family lived in Emmett and then Pocatello before moving to Boise in 1963. In 1964, they became first-time homeowners by building a home on Annette Street in Boise. Myrna and Mel were always social and had lots of friends from work and the neighborhood. They both played tennis, golf and bowled in leagues with friends. In 1974 the family moved to Juneau, Alaska where Myrna took a job at B.M. Behrends bank. They lived there until 1980 when they moved back to Boise then Pocatello and then back to Juneau in 1983. Myrna always kept a beautiful house and was an excellent cook. She loved to decorate and they built and decorated several houses over the years in Boise and Juneau. She and Mel moved to Hillsboro, Oregon 1993 where Myrna was the branch manager for Key Bank. She retired from banking later that year and they moved to Corvallis where she and Mel were managers at Rose Terrace Apartments. At the same time, she became the bookkeeper for Tunnel Radio where she worked until 2004. Even after she retired again at age 70, she did taxes for several family members and their small businesses. She enjoyed her family and especially her grandchildren. She hosted many delicious holiday meals and “the more, the merrier” was the rule for guests. After the table was cleared, there was always a pinochle game with children and grandchildren. She kept busy with crafts or projects and spent many hours gardening, knitting, and producing “masterpieces” at painting classes with family. Myrna enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball. She became a “Beaver Believer” after moving to Corvallis and held season tickets to both the OSU and Corvallis Knights teams. She made many friends attending the games. She and Mel loved to dance and listen to music. She had a nice voice and sang when she was younger. She loved country music and attended the Oregon Jamboree for many years with family and made friends with other music lovers they sat near year after year. Udine and Melvin passed away in December 2005. Myrna continued to live in the Corvallis area until 2016 when she moved to Wilsonville, Oregon to live with Mona. She moved to assisted living at Stoneybrook in November of 2017 where she made new friends and continued to see baseball buddies at games. She was living at Stoneybrook at the time of her death. Myrna was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister Marilyn Cooper, her brother Jerry (Butch) Cooper and infant sister Mary Ann Cooper. She is survived by brother Thomas Cooper of Hagerman, Idaho, Sister Caren Jensen of Bothel, Washington, children Mona Rose of Hillsboro, Oregon, Mike and Ranee McDougal of Corvallis, Oregon, Russ McDougal and Laura Baker of Juneau, Alaska and Dan and Michelle McDougal of Lynnwood, Washington. She leaves 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lumina Hospice for the love and care they showed for Myrna.

Myrna Rae McDougal

December 30, 1934 - September 19, 2023