Mary Anna (Gibson) Coles

Mary Anna (Gibson) Coles passed away peacefully with her family at her side on August 16, 2018 in Beaverton, Oregon. Mary Anna was born on September 12, 1933 in Johnson City, New York. She was the only daughter of William L and Carrie B. Gibson. She grew up in Johnson City and graduated from Johnson City High School in 1951. As she grew, she liked horseback riding, and roller, and ice skating.
She enrolled in Wagner College as a nursing student in the 1953-54 academic year. There she met Roswell Coles, (Rod), and they were married on August 6, 1955.
They had 5 children, Mary Elizabeth, Roswell III, Christopher, Kathryn, and Andrew. In 1967, after living in Connecticut, Minneapolis, and Staten Island, they moved to South Orange, New Jersey where they lived for almost 50 years. She was a devoted mother and spouse. Along with her family duties, she attended Kean College (now Kean University) and graduated with a BA degree in Elementary Education.
In 1976. She also received a certificate in early childhood education. For many years she was involved in pre-school education and early childhood intervention programs. She retired from teaching in 1998.
In South Orange, she was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and Holy Communion which is also in South Orange. She served as a member of the Vestry, and several other committees and was, for many years, minister of the candles there. She often participated in the Soup Kitchen ministry.
In 2016, she and Rod gave up their big house in South Orange and moved to a smaller house in Beaverton, Oregon where they were close to Roddy III and Andy. Kathryn and Christopher, (Kate and
Chris), also moved to Oregon and their family was complete there.
She was very fond of her brother, William, her three grandsons and all her nephews and nieces. She tried to remember each of them on birthdays and other special occasions. She is predeceased by her parents and daughter, Mary Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Covenant House New Jersey, 330 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102 or The Goodwill Rescue Mission 79 University Ave, Newark, NJ, 07102