Kevin Packard Cooney

Kevin Packard Cooney, 70, of Hunts Point, WA, passed away at his home on February 21, 2023 with his loving wife Cheryl by his side. Though ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) weakened his body, it never diminished his spirit. During his two-year battle with the disease, he remained positive, held firm to his faith in God, and continued to express his sincere love and gratitude to his family, friends, neighbors, and team of doctors, nurses, and all who supported him.

Kevin was born in Salt Lake City, UT, on December 3, 1952, to Lloyd and Betty Cooney. He and his twin brother Kim, and sister Shauna, spent their childhood years playing in the Foothill neighborhood of Salt Lake City. Life was filled with music, backyard circuses, fishing, and a gang of all the neighborhood kids. At the age of four, his comedic talents debuted on KSL’s Romper Room. This began a lifelong appreciation for the arts, though Kevin never sought the attention of the spotlight; he much preferred shining the light on others.

In 1963, the Cooney family moved to Bellevue, WA, where Kevin developed many lifelong friendships including one with a pretty girl visiting his Sunday School class. He remained friends with Cheryl Lynn Crandall throughout grade school. In spite of living a hundred miles apart, Cheryl saw all of Kevin’s musicals: Oklahoma, The King and I, and My Fair Lady. And Kevin never missed an opportunity to see Cheryl. In addition to theater, Kevin participated in wrestling, water skied, earned his Eagle Scout, and worked at the old Ferrell’s Ice-Cream Parlour. In 1971, he graduated from Bellevue High School and then left for college.

Kevin received a degree in Finance from Brigham Young University. His college days were filled with lots of activities including varsity Yell Leader near his favorite cheerleader, Cheryl. He also enjoyed racing his dune buggy and other shenanigans with loyal friends. Kevin was a tenor in the BYU A Cappella Choir and cherished the choir’s international tour where they performed in some of the greatest cathedrals in Europe.

In 1974, Kevin and Cheryl married in the Salt Lake Temple and moved back to the Northwest. During their early years of marriage, they lived in Kirkland and Medina. In 1980, they moved to Hunts Point, where he resided the rest of his life. Kevin and Cheryl enjoyed many activities at the family cabin on Lake Whatcom, but also traveled around the world, with special visits to their favorite, Hawaii.

The Cooney home was always open to family, friends, and visitors. Kevin and Cheryl were the perfect team and the rare couple who never tired of each other’s company. Together they raised eight children and later enjoyed being grandparents to 23 grandchildren. Kevin never missed an opportunity to tell his family and friends how much they meant to him, and everyone who knew him felt his unconditional love.

Kevin enjoyed a successful career in broadcasting and advertising, highlighted by the joy in becoming lifelong friends with many colleagues. His career began at country station KMPS, continuing as the VP/General Manager for KJR and KSEA. He continued with KIRO, before retiring as National Sales Manager with NWCN. He also served as Chair of the Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau and on the board for the Ronald McDonald House.

Kevin always sought out a good adventure: paragliding behind boats or cars, knee-boarding, body surfing, cliff-jumping, bungee-jumping, skiing, or basically anything dangerous. He carried a similar enthusiasm on the stage in local community and church productions where he played in Stars ‘N Tinsel, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. He later joined his children in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Nutcracker as the Drunk Uncle and appeared with Cheryl in Cinderella. For over a decade, Kevin and Cheryl loved watching children thrive in their backyard Little Theatre in the Willows. He continued to pursue his passion for music by singing in the church choir, playing the piano at home, and guitar garage band sessions with friends.

Throughout his life, Kevin was always quick to show sincere love, respect and concern for everyone around him, including strangers. If you knew him, you were an automatic friend. He always put others’ needs ahead of his own.

Shortly before his ALS diagnosis, Kevin served as Bishop of the Bellevue Ward for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Cheryl served selflessly with love and compassion for everyone in the congregation. They subsequently served on the Church Council of Greater Seattle and deeply enjoyed the friendships made during that time. Kevin’s legacy lives on in the cherished memories, funny stories, and the hearts of all who knew our beloved brother, friend, husband, father, and grandfather.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd and Betty Cooney, his brother Michael Packard Cooney, and grandson Gabriel Smith.

Kevin is survived by his beloved wife Cheryl Cooney; their children: Elisa (Rob), Cecily (Wayne), Megan (Jeremy), Caitlin (Kimball), Kelly (Jordan), Mallory (Bradley), Riley (Madeline), and Sean (Jennette); twenty-two grand-children: Sean, Sophie, Taylor, Blake, Abigail, William, Thomas, Lily, Oliver, Betty, Gwyneth, Beckett, Matilda, Everett, James, Charlie, Martin, Henry, Forest, Robinson, Elliot and Samuel; his sister Shauna Brenner, and his brother Kim.

A Funeral Service will be held on March 4th at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. viewing) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel at 10675 NE 20th St., Bellevue. A luncheon for all in attendance will follow immediately. He will be buried the following day at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue, WA.