Phyllis Lee Downer Coiner passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, September 3, 2024 in Gordonsville, Virginia. She was born at home August 20, 1928 in Gordonsville, the daughter of the late Ashby Rudolph Downer and the late Mabel Hattie Allman Downer. Phyllis was happily married to Lynwood (Woody) Leonard Coiner, Jr. for 61 years until his death June 15, 2010. In addition to her parents and husband, Woody, Phyllis was predeceased by her grandson, Matthew Britt Coiner; sisters, Helen Downer Hale and Jean Downer Perkins; brothers William Malcolm Downer and Ashby R. Downer, Jr; and niece Jane Allman Hale.

Phyllis is survived by sons Lynwood L. Coiner, III (Melinda) of Midlothian, Va, and Robert Keith Coiner (Jacqueline) and daughter Anne Coiner Jones (Billy Brockman), both of Gordonsville. She was blessed with six grandchildren, and survived by James Jones (Samantha Warren), David Lynwood Coiner (Jessica), Allison Reid Jones, Lauren Coiner Samuels, and Lindsay Marie Coiner; four great-grandchildren Reese Alexander Coiner, Stone Anderson Coiner, Eli Warren Jones, and Cora Emerson Samuels. She is also survived by a beloved sister-in-law, Ann Coiner Nygaard, and many special nephews and nieces.

Phyllis had many wonderful memories of growing up in Gordonsville, where she was loved and supported by a close-knit community of friends and family. She loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s events, and watching UVA sports (where Woody attended and granddaughter Lindsay graduated). Her family loved that, being a knowledgeable sports fan, Phyllis typically provided more insightful commentary than the announcers during a game.

She loved her church dearly, being a lifetime member of Gordonsville United Methodist Church. In the church Phyllis worked tirelessly as an active Board Member, Sunday School teacher, was an active member in women’s circles, helped produce various Harvest dinners and bazaars and on and on for over 80 years. Her Church was an important part of her life.

Phyllis graduated from Orange County High School and attended Madison College (JMU). She was a former member of the Orange Junior Women’s Club, and was a very active member and leader of the Gordonsville Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary for more than 25 years. Phyllis enjoyed her career in the bookkeeping office of the Gordonsville Community Hospital, and doing the same for various doctors over the years.

Phyllis was always a member of several Bridge groups in Orange and Gordonsville and for many years played in the “Bridge Marathon”. She excelled at Bridge and was still playing at a high level at the age of 95. Every Bridge enthusiast in Orange County probably sat across from her at one time or another. She loved her Bridge friends.

Phyllis placed 2nd in the state Spelling Bee while in school and was a lifelong lover of words and word games. She loved crossword puzzles, the jumbles and playing Scrabble. Not surprising, then, that Phyllis was a prodigious reader, subscribing to 3 newspapers and numerous magazines for more than 75 years while reading several books a week. She was an informed, interesting and fun conversationalist.

It must be said that her abilities and qualifications as the perfect mom and grandmother were unsurpassed. Her caring, intelligence, intuition, wisdom, determination and unconditional love combined to make her and her words exactly what her children and grandchildren needed in every moment of their lives. She was loved beyond description.

And, most importantly, Phyllis was a kind and generous person who always saw the good in everyone and never spoke an unkind word. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you send a donation in Phyllis's name to Gordonsville United Methodist Church, PO Box 466, Gordonsville, VA 22942. A memorial service at Gordonsville United Methodist Church, 407 N. Main St, will be held Friday, September 6, 2024, at 2 p.m., with a reception following. The family has entrusted Preddy Funeral Home of Gordonsville with arrangements.