COTHRUN, Mary Theresa

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 04/20/2010 Mary Theresa (Sanders) Cothrun, was born August 27, 1952, at Ft. Carson, CO. She grew up at nearly 10,000 ft. in the gold mining camp of Cripple Creek, CO, and resided there until 1976. She met Mike Cothrun of Miami, AZ, and moved there in the summer of 1976. The couple was married in Cripple Creek in November 1976. She moved to Pinedale, Az. in May 1988, and lived there until she passed away peacefully at home on April 14, 2010. Mary Theresa worked in the Show Low Public School system as a teacher's aide for many years; her last position was at the Clay Springs Elementary School working with kids on reading and writing skills. In the 1990s, she worked in the special education department at Show Low High School, as well as assisted kids with earning their GEDs at the White Mountain Institute. Helping children and adults was a life long passion of Mary Theresa's as she worked in the early 1970s as the Activity Director at the State Mental Health Hospital in Cripple Creek, CO, as well as in special education departments in the Miami and Apache Junction school districts in the 1980s. Mary Theresa was a kind and loving mother, who enjoyed spending time with her kids. She enjoyed long walks in the forest with her dogs, early morning cups of coffee with family, and a cold beer with friends. She exuded kindness and was a friend to countless people. She touched the lives of people throughout the community, and throughout her life. She believed in kindness to others and living life to its fullest - a kind, brave soul, she will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband, Mike Cothrun, Pinedale; son Seth (Harper L. Hall), Chicago; daughter Jacinda, Phoenix; son Bryan, Flagstaff; mother Mary Lee Sanders, Colorado Springs; sister Darlene, Colorado Springs and brother Jimmy (Carol), of Florence, CO. Her father, Franklin "Bud" Sanders, of Cripple Creek, preceded her in death. A Celebration of Mary Theresa's life will be held on Saturday, April 24, from 1-7pm at the Cothrun residence in Pinedale, located at 1259 Pinedale Rd. (USFS Pinedale Work Center). Mary Theresa was an animal lover and strongly advocated against the mistreatment and abandonment of animals; therefore, in lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations be made to: In Memory of Mary Theresa Cothrun c/o The Humane Society of the White Mountains, PO BOX 909, Lakeside, AZ 85929 Donations can also be made through the organizations website, please place "In Memory of Mary Theresa Cothrun" in the memo/comments section: www.hswm.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ Wednesday, Apr 28th, 2010 Mary Theresa Cothrun, age 57, passed away on April 14, 2010 at her home in Pinedale, Ariz. She is survived by her husband, Michael Cothrun; sons, Seth and Bryan; daughter Jacinda; and her mother Mary Lee Sanders.