Madeline E. Wise-Stephens

Madeline E. Wise-Stephens

May 5, 1959 – December 25, 2025

A Celebration of Life will be held for Madeline E. Stephens, 66, of Coos Bay, at 2:00pm Saturday May 23, 2026 at the Black Market Gourmet, 495 Central Ave., Coos Bay. 

Madeline passed away on December 25, 2025 at her Coos Bay home with her family at her side,  She was born May 5, 1959 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Henry and Carolyn (Harden) Wise.  She was raised and educated in San Pedro, CA, and graduated from San Pedro High School in 1977. She attended Harbor College for several years before transferring to San Jose State University where she graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.  After completing her licensing requirements, she started working at Agnews State Hospital in San Jose.

She first met Mark Stephens in December 1978 in San Pedro dating for several years until she moved to Denver in December 1981 to complete her professional training, reuniting in 1983 and married in 1986 in Palo Alto, California where they made their home and welcomed their son Jeff in 1989.  In 1991 they moved to Coos Bay to work for the Coos County ESD where she worked for 15 years as an Occupational Therapist and served as the president of the ESD Teachers Union. In 1995 they welcomed a second son, Michael.  In 2006 Madeline volunteered for CASA, she served on the board of the Oregon Coast Music Association and served as its president for three years. Beginning in 2014, Madeline worked at the North Bend Medical Center Physical Therapy Department as a Hand Therapist, fulfilling a long time occupational goal. Madeline and Mark loved to travel and had visited Rome and the rest of Italy, France, Spain, England, Scotland and Wales.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Stephens of Coos Bay, son, Jeff Stephens and granddaughter, Madison of Portland, son, Michael Stephens and Hannah White of St. Louis, Missouri, sisters, Margaret McCoy of Houston, Texas and Marianne Fox of Ohio and several nieces and nephews.

Contributions in her memory may be made to: The American Diabetes Association, the Oregon Coast Music Association, or to the Oregon Food Cupboard.

Cremation rites have been held under the direction of Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave, Coos Bay, Oregon  541/267-4216.