Joanne Rochelle Bakko was born in Wenatchee, Washington, Aug. 17, 1939, to Raymond Guy and Sarah Elizabeth Cooper. She went on to live most of her life in Yakima, Washington, and later moved and spent many of her remaining years in the foothills of Packwood, Washington, where she worked a full-time job and balanced home life with six children.
Joanne loved teaching ceramic classes and sharing her talents of art with whomever was willing to learn. She was an exquisite seamstress and sewed every stunning wedding gown for family and for others. So much love went into whatever she put her hands and needles to and the magic would begin to unfold and love would show in the end result of whatever project she was working on!
Some of the many titles she held over the years were waitress, grocery store clerk, tree planter, owned ceramic shop, craft shop in Renton, and her last job with King County elections, all of which she enjoyed and she did them all tirelessly.
She later left Packwood and met her husband Gerald (Jerry) and moved to Renton until his retirement. They made their family home in Winlock and later moved to Rochester to be closer to family. She also spent many days painting wood projects her husband Gerald (Jerry) would cut out to make for gifts.
Joanne is survived by her husband, Jerry; a sister, Renee Cooper (Kim) Newport; daughter, Debbie (Bill) Fox, Rochester; daughter Tammy (Craig) Maxwell, Silver Creek; son, Raymond (Lisa) Lizotte, Salkum; daughter, Janae (Jerry) Montgomery, Packwood; daughter, Karri Muir (Andy) Whiton, Chehalis; daughter, Beth Tott, of Lakewood; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, Raymond and Sarah; and brothers Bud, Roger, Bobby, Douglas, Vernon and Gene Cooper.
Joanne left this heavenly earth March 13, 2023, at her family home in Rochester surrounded by family, and the world will never be the same without her as she touched so many lives. At her request, there will be no services. She loved you all!
