An Arizonan in more than name

Arizona changed its status from territory to statehood on Feb. 14, 1912, and a child was born in Yuma to William Peter and Carolina Cooper on the same date.

Her name was Valentine Arizona Cooper.

In news interviews throughout the years, this “Miss Arizona” said she didn't care for the other names so she chose to be Zona D. Cooper.

The “D” was for Dorothy, used by her father when announcing the marriage of his daughter Zona Dorothy Cooper to Ralph F. Brandt, June 30, 1939.

In an interview years ago with Carol Brooks of the Arizona Historical Society of Yuma, Zona, who passed away in 2003, explained that her father was originally from Ohio, and her mother, the former Carolina Holdener, was from Switzerland and San Francisco.

The Coopers, including first daughter Alma and William Peter's brothers, Frank and Charles, and his sister Tillie, moved from Salinas, Calif., to Yuma in about 1906. They brought farming equipment, mules and horses they had been using in agriculture to the Yuma valley, settling on ranches on west 8th street, now the University of Arizona Experimental Station.

Two more children were born in Yuma before Zona's birth: William (Dan) and Mabel. Frank Cooper, now the last of the original family, was born in 1914, followed by Annie, Irene and Joe.

There were many chores to help with in the family's new home: cows to milk, and on Saturdays, laundry, ironing and cleaning the house. And sometimes on Saturday nights, Zona said in her interview with Brooks, “we'd all get to come to town, and that was great. We'd get to go to a movie once in a while.”

Her mother had a horse, buggy and surrey for transportation.

Sundays were to attend services at the Immaculate Conception Church on Main and 3rd streets. (This burned down in 1960 and a new IC church opened on Avenue B in 1964.)

Zona's growing up mirrored progress, as her family was instrumental in creating irrigation systems in that part of farming in Yuma. Electricity was brought into the valley and the family got an electric washing machine and the water was pumped by an electric pump and windmill.

A Ford touring car improved the family's transportation, Zona recounted in her interview.

Among Zona's earliest recollections was of the devastating flood of the Colorado River in 1916 that poured over its banks into the town and washed out several levees in the rural areas.

The family camped out with other people on the mesa above the flood area, and then stayed at a friend's house for about six weeks before moving back into their own house that was built about three feet above the ground.

Rood school on Somerton Avenue and Crane on Avenue C were the first schools Zona attended, but then she went to Yuma Union High School, graduating in 1930.

When she was in her junior year at YUHS, Zona's father had a ruptured appendix, and had surgery in a hospital, then at a train depot. She told other interviewers in later years at the Yuma Sun that this experience encouraged her to become a nurse. Her studies in chemistry, Latin and biology were good backgrounds when she went to San Diego to enroll at the Mercy Hospital Nurses Training.

Completing the year-round nursing program, Zona worked in surgery and pediatrics at Mercy Hospital and private nursing until 1935 when her mother became ill and she returned to Yuma to care for her.

She did private duty nursing and helped at the first Yuma General Hospital on Avenue B. When a new wing was added to the hospital, Zona had commented “It was real wonderful.”

In 1937 she met Ralph F. Brandt during a dance at the San Carlos Hotel. Their courtship included dances at the Elks Lodge, the old American Legion hall and in Winterhaven after the Yuma night spots closed.

They were married in 1939. Ralph was a bookkeeper, and then became a recognized and successful attorney, the profession he followed until his retirement in 1990. He was also in the credit business.

Zona's career changed when she turned from nursing to become a sheet metal worker during World War II. She trained for six weeks in classes at YUHS, then worked at the Yuma Army Air Field (now the Marine Corps Air Station.)

The Brandts had two sons, both retired, Fred, now living in Encinitas, Calif., and Bill, in Yuma.

After the sons were born, Zona took up golf. She and Ralph were charter members of the Yuma Golf and Country Club, where she played and won numerous golf honors. Her son Fred said, “I played golf but quit, because when my 80-year-old mother could beat me, what was the point?”

During her lifetime, Zona was active in the community, including serving as president of District 7 Arizona Nurses Association, with the Art Center League, on the Yuma County Historical Society board, and as a member of the Westerners and Ladies of Indian Trails clubs.

She also attended the dedication of Morelos Dam near Los Algodones, Baja Calif., in 1950, and the building of Imperial Dam on the Colorado River.

She held offices in the Yuma Garden Club with her sister Alma Schott, and was known for her own landscaping in Pecan Grove.

Son Bill, said, “No matter where we went on trips she would come back with clippings, seeds and plant them. They always grew and I think the rocks she collected would have moss.”

Another pursuit was becoming an artist, and Zona took classes with Arizona Western College's instructor Neil Bear.

The painting career continued and she, along with Aura Mae Savage and Rosemary Thompson, had their own art show in 1997. Some of her paintings are owned by family members and friends.

Bill is spending time working on the Brandts' place at Martinez Lake. “Mom said that if we hadn't had the cabin at the lake growing up to keep us busy, my brothers and I might have ended up being orphans. Memories stay there.”

In addition to family outings, Zona and Ralph were world travelers, visiting Europe, South America, China, Australia and other places.

“Mother always wanted to see what was around the next corner,” said Fred

Except for the time she was training in San Diego to be a nurse, Zona lived her entire life in Arizona, from her birth on Statehood Day until her death in Yuma on Oct. 23, 2003.