Mary Lee Fowler Coats

Mary was born in Birmingham, AL. Her Father had just started a job with TVA and at six weeks old she moved to the Tennessee Valley.

She attended Marion County High School in Jasper, TN, graduating in 1969. She graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1973. She spent her last college year in Medical Technology School conducted at St. Thomas Hospital.

Mary worked at St. Thomas for 37 years retiring in 2010. She held her former co-workers in high regard. She looked forward to the retirees’ informal dinners at local restaurants.

On January 10, 1981 she married Bill Coats at West End Church of Christ. They spent 43 years and 4 days together.

They traveled in that time. Mary went to the Tower of London and the Eiffel Tower, she walked beaches in Hawaii and Normandy, cruised down the Rhine and up the Danube. She took a train ride through the Swiss Alps and navigated the Grand Canal in Venice. Always at a beautiful sunset she would remark God does wonderful work. She always made room for her God and Savior and told others of Them.

Mary had great love for her family. She is survived by her husband Bill, sister Sara Katherine, two brothers-in-law both named Chris and both attorneys, nephews Shannon, Cameron, and Jacob, nieces Suzanne, Amy, Emily, Kyleigh, Katie and Ashlyn. She Always wanted to know how they were excelling in their lives.

She also cared for children at Church and in the neighborhood. She, for example, was at home when a window was broken by a hockey puck. Two boys playing street hockey had a shot go wide. They apologized and she baked them cookies so they would not feel bad.

Every Wednesday she faithfully met with friends to play her favorite game of Rummy Cubes. Bill hopes to fill her chair.

She loved animals, especially her dogs. She was the one the dog she inherited from her parents would obey. She picked Prince Charming from the Williamson County pound. And Scrappy adores her as she did him. She often remarked that pound puppies are the best puppies.

One of her volunteer works was to help with Healing Hands International. In particular the Magi Boxes sent out every year for Christmas time. In lieu of flowers the family would ask you to support the efforts of this good organization.