Key Points
- Former Edmonds Mayor, Snohomish County Council member, state legislator and Elma City Council member Mike Cooper died on August 20, 2026, aged 74, after an extended illness and a 17-year battle with cancer.
- Cooper spent 26 years with the Shoreline Fire Department, retiring as a lieutenant in 2006. He also served 20 years on the executive board of IAFF Local 1760, including as president.
- He represented the 21st Legislative District in the Washington State House of Representatives for four terms from 1997 to 2005, where he supported legislation benefiting firefighters and working families.
- Cooper served on the Snohomish County Council from 2007 to 2010 before being appointed mayor of Edmonds in 2010.
- In 2010, Cooper received the Walt Lambert Trade Union Leadership Award from the Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF). He was elected to the WSCFF Retirees Association Board in June 2023.
Washington (Evening Washington News) August 28, 2026 — As reported by journalist Brian Soergel of the Edmonds Beacon and local outlets, former Edmonds Mayor James “Mike” Cooper died at his home in Elma, Washington, surrounded by his family.
Family members and local officials confirmed that Cooper passed away peacefully following an extended illness, having battled cancer for 17 years. Known extensively throughout Washington State for his decades of public service, trade union leadership, and community involvement, Cooper leaves behind a legacy deeply tied to labor advocacy and local governance.
Who was Mike Cooper and what were his early life details?
Born in Sunnyside, Washington, in 1952 to parents Jack and Betty Cooper, Cooper moved with his family to Edmonds during his youth. As detailed in family obituary notes published by My Edmonds News, he graduated from Edmonds High School in 1970 before pursuing higher education at Edmonds Community College and Linfield College.
In 1973, he married Chrystal, his wife of over five decades. Beyond his civic career, Cooper was deeply involved in youth sports, coaching soccer and wrestling, and acting as an announcer for Edmonds and Edmonds-Woodway High School wrestling programs for the majority of his adult life.
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How did Mike Cooper contribute to the fire service and trade unions?
Transitioning into a long career in public safety, Cooper joined the Shoreline Fire Department in 1980, where he served for 26 years before retiring as a lieutenant in 2006. Alongside his operational duties, as noted by My Edmonds News and the Edmonds Beacon, Cooper spent 20 years on the executive board of the Shoreline firefighters union, IAFF Local 1760, serving multiple terms as its president and later being named president emeritus.
He also acted as secretary-treasurer for the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation and taught fire safety education to students in Shoreline. In recognition of his extensive labor advocacy, the Washington State Council of Firefighters honored him with the Walt Lambert Trade Union Leadership Award in 2010.
Reflecting on his life, the Washington State Council of Firefighters and IAFF Local 1760 Shoreline stated in an official joint release:
“With heavy hearts, the WSCFF and IAFF Local 1760 Shoreline report the death of Mike Cooper on August 20, 2026. Brother Cooper passed peacefully, surrounded by his family, after an extended illness.”
The organization further stated on Facebook:
“Mike’s love of politics and service to others was unmatched and his energy, experience and knowledge was second to none. He was a champion for not only firefighters but all workers in the state of Washington. He will be deeply missed.”
What political offices did Mike Cooper hold in Washington State?
Cooper’s career in elected office spanned municipal, county, and state levels. He served four terms in the Washington State House of Representatives as a Democrat representing the 21st Legislative District from 1997 to 2005. During his tenure in the legislature, he authored and championed key bills aimed at improving safety and retirement conditions for emergency personnel, including efforts to reduce the LEOFF 2 retirement age to 53 and expand presumptive medical coverage for firefighters.
Following his tenure in the legislature, Cooper was elected to the Snohomish County Council, serving from 2007 through 2010. In the summer of 2010, following the departure of three-term Mayor Gary Haakensen to Snohomish County, the Edmonds City Council appointed Cooper as the mayor of Edmonds. He subsequently ran in the subsequent mayoral election but was defeated by Dave Earling. Later in life, Cooper relocated to Grays Harbor County and was elected to the Elma City Council, serving actively on the council until the time of his passing.
How did community leaders and organizations react to his passing?
Tributes poured in from across the state following the announcement of Cooper’s death. Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen issued a statement reported by the Edmonds Beacon, saying:
“I am saddened by the loss of former Edmonds Mayor Mike Cooper. Mike dedicated much of his life to public service, much of it connected to the community he called home.”
Mayor Rosen added:
“On behalf of the City of Edmonds, I extend my deepest condolences to Mike’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all those who knew and worked alongside him.”
In Elma, city officials ordered flags at City Hall to be lowered to half-staff through Monday in Cooper’s honor. Elma Mayor Josh Collette shared a statement via The Daily World, noting:
“The City of Elma joins our community in honoring the life and legacy of Mike Cooper; a faithful public servant, community leader, mentor, and friend. Mike brought a lot of experience to the Elma City Council, but what stood out most was his perspective. He understood that effective local government involves listening to residents, collaborating to find solutions, asking difficult questions, and planning ahead for the future.”
The family-shared obituary similarly emphasized his core personal values, noting:
“He was a firefighter for 26 years, a union president, youth sports coach, state legislator, a county councilman, a city councilmember, and a mayor — and he would have listed none of those first. Being a husband, dad, son and brother was always his point of pride.”
Cooper is survived by his wife, Chrystal; his children, Jim, Marsha, and Rebecca; his grandchildren; and his siblings. Memorial contributions have been requested by the family in lieu of flowers to be directed to the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Cancer Foundation.
