Virginia L. Coakley

Virginia Lee Coakley, age 82,  passed away peacefully on December 28, 2019 while surrounded by her family.

She was born on April 27, 1937 to Oscar Lawrence and Floy Nadine Hester.

Virg lived with a servant heart that was also very no-nonsense. She would help anyone as long as they were willing to help themselves.  She absolutely adored her family and loved being a part of their lives. She was a great lover of animals, the water and Kenny Rogers. She was a strong person. We know this because she taught seven teenagers how to drive, often two at a time. She had to be strong to live for several years with five teenagers in the same house at the same time. Oh the laundry she would do....

She was the most unselfish person I have ever known. She took in three children when their parents died and made them her own. She made a loving home for nine people and one would never know that we could barely make ends meet. She worked full time just to put groceries on the table each week and Christmas was always bountiful even though it took her most of the next year to pay it off. She LOVED Christmas so it doesn't surprise me that she went home to our Lord during this special season.

She worked for many years at Ingall's Shipbuilding but I think her favorite job was working at McDonald's. She had such an impact on people wherever she was and this was a great place for putting a smile on people's faces. I am sure that was the cleanest McDonalds in the country.

She embraced life and her Catholic faith every day. One of the highlights of her life was when she got to go see the Pope. All of her children were baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. One of our lasting memories is going to mass every Sunday, but not just mass.  We wore our bathing suits under our clothes and pulled the boat into the parking lot and after mass we headed to the river to go water skiing every single Sunday weather permitting.

She is survived by 5 daughters, Christie Coakley (Jim) Doggett (Jim), , Susan Coakley Stork, Lisa Coakley (Matt) Harrison (Matt), Mindy Wood (Jim) Sautel (Jim), Cindy Wood Tusa and 1 son Billy Coakley. 

She is also survived by 23 grandchildren, Ashley McLain (Amy), Scott Stork (Erica), Reid Stork (Taylor), Blake Stork (Taylor), Logan Harrison, Drew Harrison, Max Gray (Katherine), Paige Gray (Mitch) Ingersoll, Jennifer Gray, Katie Gray, Freddy Sautel, Jamie Sautel, Stephen Sautel, Annie Sautel, Richie Tusa, Torry Tusa, Tim Wood, Pat Wood, Chris Pierce, Meagan Wood, Haley Wood, Dylan Wood, Kyle Wood and 9 great grandchildren, Sister-in-Law Carol Hester, nieces Terri Hester, Connie Coakley Chastain, nephews Robert Coakley and Chris Coakley and 5 very special friends Ethel Palmer, Carol Cox, Angela Foster, Rosemary Hardesty and Elizabeth Broadus.

She’s preceded in death by her mother and father, one brother Oscar(Corky) Hester, nephew Larry Michael Hester, ex-husband William Coakley, Brother-in-Law Charles Coakley, Sister-in-Law Shirley Coakley and 1 son Michael Wood.

A very heartfelt thanks to Tanya Quinn for helping us take such excellent care of our mom.  You are the best caregiver ever and we love you.We also want to thank Hospice of Light for their loving care. 

A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pascagoula, MS on Wednesday January 8th, 2020 Visitation beginning at 10 am followed by mass at 11 am.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association US 501 (c) (3) Nonprofit Organization

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