Obituary of Valjean C. Coates

Valjean C. Coates of 215 North 14th Street passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Coates was born on February 9, 1918 in Ridgeway Pennsylvania and was the daughter of John and Anna Johnson Anderson. On November 10, 1945 she married Carl I. Johnson who predeceased her on April 9, 1984. On March 28, 1985 she married Harold W. Coates, who predeceased her on March 28, 1990. Mrs. Coates was a graduate of Ridgeway High School class of 1936. She worked for St. Francis Hospital for about 20 years as a Medical Secretary. Mrs. Coates retired in 1978. She and her husband moved to Zephyrhills, Florida in 1979 and would come back to Olean for the summers. Mrs. Coates moved back to Olean in February of 2008. Valjean was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and enjoyed doing crafts. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mrs. Coates is survived by Two daughters, Cynthia A. (Leo) Vanderhoef, and Christine M. (Steven) Brainard both of Olean; a stepson, Wallace (Corky) Coates of Barker; four grandchildren, Kevin M. (Emily) McClelland, Karl W. (Tracie) McClelland, Traci A. (Michael) Foster, and Katie M. (Chris) Wisniewski; two step grandchildren, Amy (Jon) Dewart and Meg (Mel) Denny; one brother, Jerome L. (Elaine) Anderson of Olean; one sister, Irene Starecheski of Baltimore, MD.; many great grandchildren and step great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Friends will be received on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 from 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street, Olean. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. in Bethany Lutheran Church The Rev. Marie A. Meeks, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Allegany Cemetery, Allegany, N.Y. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made out to the Bethany Lutheran Church or the Olean Food Pantry.