Alice Chopper

Alice C. Chopper of Sunnyside passed away peacefully on December 16, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Alice was born on June 29, 1925 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan to Benjamin and Alice Van Eaton. Her parents had emigrated from Tacoma WA with extended family to participate in Canadian Homesteading. That endeavor failed, and after a short stay in Lamoni IA (where her father studied Chiropractic) they moved to Yakima and then settled in Sunnyside. Alice went through public school in Sunnyside, gathering many lifelong friends. Two of her favorite activities were playing the Bass Clarinet in the school band and playing field hockey with her friends. Alice graduated Salutatorian from Sunnyside High School in spring 1943. Alice was committed to earning a college education, which she had to fund herself. Her family suffered like many through the Great Depression. After graduating from high school Alice took a one-year job at Morning Milk to earn funds for college. After enrolling at Washington State College in fall 1944 she took a full-time waitress job with a campus cafeteria and worked as a coat check girl to pay her expenses. She continued those job to graduation. Alice also worked hard at her summer jobs. She did a variety of tasks, including farm work and ditch rider for the new Roza Canal (inspecting the canal for leaks). Her dogged persistence and unflinching effort to achieve a difficult goal was later passed on to her children. In college Alice took classes to earn the challenging Pharmacy degree, doing well academically and graduating in the spring of 1948. After graduating Alice returned to Sunnyside and in the fall was hired by Gail Howard and Frank Filicetti to join the pharmacist staff at Howard's Empire Drug (HED). In 1956 Alice met George Chopper, and in early 1957 they married. Settling in Sunnyside Alice lovingly raised a daughter and 3 sons. Alice took a several years break from HED to start her family and then returned to work. When Professional Center Pharmacy (PCP) was opened in 1966 Alice was transferred from HED to become PCP’s Head Pharmacist. In 1987 PCP closed as chain stores began to dominate the market. Alice was immediately hired to head the pharmacy of the new Sunnyside Bi-Mart. She served there until retiring in mid-1997. After retiring Alice joined the Yakima Pokies hiking club and explored the Cascade Range. She had made many hikes while raising her sons but the Pokies allowed her to explore new areas. Alice loved the outdoors and while raising her children had taken them hiking, camping, and fishing in Eastern and Western WA. Alice also joined Elderhostel and made several trips in the USA West to places she wanted to see, and a particularly exciting trip to the Galapagos Islands. Alice's sons grew up and entered technical careers which allowed them to travel extensively. Each took Alice on trips to domestic and international destinations, collectively including: Hawaii, Kansas City, Washington D.C., the UK, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Alice was a wonderful traveling companion and always eager to explore. Alice is survived by her brother and sister-in-law David and Janice Van Eaton (Sunnyside), sister-in-law Audrey Van Eaton (Sunnyside), daughters Patty Gray (Ellensburg), Melody Roper (Sequim), Susan Forgey (Northport), and sons Bruce Chopper (Gresham OR), Kris Chopper (San Diego CA), and Mark Chopper (Woodinville), and a menagerie of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home, 531 S. 16th St., Sunnyside, WA at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 22nd.. All are invited to attend. Those wishing to make donations are requested to direct them to the Joslin Diabetes Foundation. Those who would like to offer flowers are asked instead to remember Alice in your heart. Family would like to thank the many friends who have contacted them and shared special memories of Alice. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alice Chopper, please visit our flower store.