EvaDawn C. Cope, 87

EvaDawn Cutler Cope, age 87, formerly of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died May 30, 2025, in Flint, Mich. EvaDawn was born March 5, 1938, at Mrs. Middleton’s Maternity Home in Rexburg, Idaho. She was the second of seven children born to Rex Edwin and Eva Blackford Briggs Cutler. Later, an additional eight siblings would join the family through her stepmother, Beth. 

EvaDawn was raised in the small farming community of Newdale, in South-Eastern Idaho. She loved music, poetry, dancing, singing, making candy, gardening, raising capon chickens, sports of all kinds and especially her family.

EvaDawn loved school and participated in many different clubs, including Future Nurses of America. She was not happy that girls' sports were limited to tennis, badminton and shuffleboard. She was grateful that through church sports, she was able to play softball.  

At the age of 16, EvaDawn was thrust into adulthood with the death of her mother. While devastated herself, she tried her best to mother her five younger siblings, whose ages ranged from ten years to ten months old.

EvaDawn graduated from Sugar-Salem High School in Sugar City and was proud to be a “beet digger”. After high school, she moved to Salt Lake City to attend LDS Business College. While attending there, she worked as a secretary at a local Hudson car dealership.

In a true Idaho love story, EvaDawn met Leonard (Len) Cope while working in the potato fields. On Oct. 25, 1957, they were married in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. They settled in Terreton before moving to Pocatello. 

EvaDawn worked at the Naval Reactors Facility, located at the Idaho National Laboratory, for Westinghouse Electric. She was the assistant to the head of the Nuclear Reactor Facility (NRF) and worked directly with Admiral H. Rickover on preparing and handling all the documents for the Nautilus – the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.

In 1959, EvaDawn and Len welcomed the first of their nine children. While living in Pocatello, they welcomed: Brent De, Kevin Todd, Rodney Dean and Kelly Lynn. 

In 1966, Len accepted a teaching position at North Idaho Junior College in Coeur d’Alene. The young family moved 500 miles away from the area where they grew up and the family and friends they loved, but they fell in love with Coeur d’Alene and built many lifelong friendships. In Coeur d’Alene, they added five more children to the family: Tony Alan, Sheri Dawn, Jeremy Tad, Kristopher Lee and Kami Jo.

While in Coeur d’Alene, EvaDawn turned her love of music into a way to earn extra income, providing lessons as well as community and sports experiences for her children. She taught music at a local Montessori school. She then partnered with Francis Cox as co-owners of “Merry Melody Musical Kindergarten.” Eventually, she became the sole owner. She retired from teaching in the mid-80s but remained very active in sharing her musical talents.

In 2019, EvaDawn suffered a stroke. Though she still had her quick wit, a song for every occasion, strong opinions and most of her mobility, she needed some extra care. She moved to Flint, Mich., part-time, to be cared for by family and eventually transitioned to living there permanently. 

In the latter years of EvaDawn’s life she enjoyed traveling to many states to visit historical sites, boat rides on Lake Michigan, watching the beautiful birds out her window, sports, visiting with friends and family, getaways to the cottage in Pentwater, art classes, ice cream and a baked potato for lunch every day. 

EvaDawn was a woman of great faith. She had a strong testimony of the power of prayer and a testimony of Jesus Christ. She tried her best to use her God given talents to bless the lives of others. She was a Cub Scout leader, as well as a Bluebird leader for Campfire Girls. She directed many youth and adult church choirs, taught youth and adult church classes and played the organ during church services. Serving others brought her great happiness, but of all the things EvaDawn loved, she loved her family most. Her family is her greatest legacy. 

EvaDawn was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, in 2001; her son, Brent (Rose) Cope; her granddaughter, Aime Cope; her great-grandson, BrentLee Humphrey; her brother, Earl (Hazel) Cutler; her sister, Marilyn (Clyde) Ricks; 2 sisters-in-law; and 5 brothers-in-law. She is survived by her children; Kevin (Bon) of Spokane Valley, Wash.; Rodney, of Coeur d’Alene; Kelly (Andrea), of Coeur d’Alene; Tony (Linda) of North Richland Hills, Texas; Sheri (Chris) Pangerl of Flint, Miss.; Jeremy (Alyssa) of Poulsbo, Wash.; Kristopher, of Coeur d’Alene; Kami (Dan) Shaw, of Coeur d’Alene. 34 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren. Siblings: Ned (Penny) Cutler, Edwin (Becky) Cutler, James (Pat) Cutler, Ruth Clarke, Chee (Marvin) Hansen, Lynda Mathews, Glendon (Pam) Briggs, Maurie (Breck) Barton, Scott (Sandra) Briggs, Keith (Patty) Cutler, Susan (Don) Parry, BethAnn (Jim) Beard, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

The visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. The funeral service will be held Friday, June 13, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2801 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 83815. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls. Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit EvaDawn’s memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.