Evelyn Thieme Coates (T-Me) accepted God’s invitation on January 1, 2022 to pack up her painter’s palette and brushes to help create and display beautiful sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, and yes, even some snowy landscapes for all to enjoy, because Heaven knows these days we need to surround ourselves on our daily journeys with all the beauty we can behold. God knew just who could help make this happen!
T-Me has been waiting patiently for the love of her life, Harold, to come off Heaven’s golf course to meet her. While she will probably fuss at him a tiny bit when they are reunited, we are thrilled to know that she will be met with one of Daddy’s big bear hugs that she has missed so much, and his joyful laughter. We know that he has been searching out all the most beautiful journeys through the stars to share with her. We also are confident that her beloved brother Junie, will delight her with the Heavenly Japanese tea gardens that he has been working on. Every time we have heard thunder since his passing, Mamma has joked, “There goes Junie, rolling those big boulders around to build the perfect paradise. I can’t wait to see what he has created now!” We also know that she will be comforted by friendly, gentle greetings from Brenda Marks and Janice Humphrey.
She leaves behind her loving children: Jeff Coates and his wife Joyce, who took loving care of her in their home for the last few years; Carol Coates; and Chris Coates. We know T-Me would also like to say thank you to Fay White for her friendship, care, and companionship these last few years; Jerry Duvall for always sharing his big smiles and hugs with her; Doug and Tami Adams for their unending love; the entire Marks/Humphrey family for their generosity and warmth (and “doctor visits”/dance demonstrations from Sadie and Emma; and John Sylvester for sharing the imagery for a peaceful passing across a tranquil lake. That has stayed with all of us since Daddy’s passing, and has provided immense comfort. She also leaves behind nieces Marsha Saumweber; Mary Alexandra Spyker; Monica Saumweber; sister-in-law Mildred Coates, and numerous friends.
The family would also like to extend our greatest appreciation to Kindred Hospice of Charlottesville, especially Milla, Sharon, Keisha and Lilly for their wonderful care, as well as chaplain Tommy who brightened Mom’s days with his beautiful singing and words of comfort every time he stepped into the room. We’d also like to thank Stacy from Hospice of the Piedmont for her love and always bringing the sunshine whenever she walked in!
T-Me’s legacy was her ability to find and share beauty and whimsy everywhere. She lived a long, blessed, mostly healthy and active life. A lifelong yoga practice kept her amazingly flexible and fit, which impressed the doctors she only begrudgingly began seeing at age 90! To the end, she never failed to tell everyone who walked in the door how beautiful they were. That comes from a lifetime of being an Avon lady, we suppose! She simply loved life and embraced a host of opportunities and activities: She was an avid reader, with a collection of books rivalling many libraries. Her favorite spot in her house at Lake Monticello was her treetop reading room/perch, built by dear friend Steve Gelletly, whom she dubbed her guardian angel. She read, dreamed, painted, and delighted in watching the birds and deer from that special spot. She enjoyed participating in several groups including line dancing; quilting; the Friends of the Library; watercolor painting; the Beautification Committee and more. She dearly loved the wonderful friends she met at the Lake, particularly Mary Styzle; Steve and Sandy Gelletly; Jack and Vicky Day; Robin and Peter Small (and their son, “Santa”); Julia Gentry; Jean and George Hurchella; Deborah, and so many more! She also adored the “kids” at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Turkeysag who spoiled her rotten. Finally, she loved to put smiles on people’s faces, so even started her own secret mission where she kept a stash of rubber duckies in her car that she would randomly/secretly leave on mailboxes around the Lake, because who doesn’t smile when they see a rubber ducky?
Mamma promised us that she would send us signs when she was safely on the other side and reunited with Daddy. So, the next time you look outside and gasp at a spectacular sunrise or sunset, realize that T-Me has her brushes out. Likewise, if you see a bluebird or cardinal doing a silly dance in a birdbath, or a pelican flying just a tiny bit out of formation at OBX, T-Me probably had a hand in that as well. And of course, when we see a shooting star, we’ll know that T-Me and Harold are delighting in one of their dances through the stars.
The family will have a private graveside service and will plan a Celebration of T-Me’s life later in the spring. Mamma was insistent that she didn’t want a somber funeral as she was grateful for having lived such a long, wonderful life for almost 93 years, so preferred that we celebrate all the happy times. If you feel inclined, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following:
All Blessings Flow in Charlottesville;
Kindred Hospice of Charlottesville; Louisa County Rescue Squad;
Lake Monticello Fire and Rescue; or
Caring for Creatures.
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