Obituary of James Coulter

James W. Coulter passed away on Friday, April 17th. Jim was a wonderful, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. Jim was born in Lockport, NY, in 1928 and grew up with brother, Roger, at the Coulter homestead on North Ridge Road. His "schooling" started in a one room school house on North Ridge. He attended Wilson High School and graduated in 1949 from Cornell University, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He married Shirley Nagler in 1950 and they began life together in Lockport. They had three children: David, Debra and James. Jim worked for Chevron Chemical selling agricultural chemicals for 35 years, starting in western New York and ending with a territory across the East Coast. He and Shirley lived in Medford, NJ, for seven years, after which he retired to the family homestead in 1978 and started Coulter Farms, growing fruits and vegetables. Coulter Farms has grown steadily from its small start over the last three decades. Jim especially enjoyed working with cousin and Farm Manager Jeff Hall over the past 20 years. Jim was active in the Emmanuel United Methodist Church, serving as head usher across several decades. He was a past president of the Niagara County Farm Bureau and received the NY Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award in 2005. He also served on the Cooperative Extension Board, the Niagara County Farmland Protection Board, the Wilson Conservation Club and the Town of Cambria Zoning Board. He is a past member of the Masons and the Kiwanis Club. Jim enjoyed his family and friends, hunting and fishing, and the farm. He drew his energy from farming and the people he met along his path. Jim was always available to contribute to the discussion on farm topics from the size of the berry crop to migrant labor issues. He was involved in early conservation practices like no-till corn and trickle irrigation and enjoyed tinkering with each new plant variety or farm technology. He was known for maintaining a personal and genuine relationship with his suppliers, customers and competitors, extending from his chemical sales days to his farm career and his personal life. Jim is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons David and Jim (Penny) Coulter; and daughter, Debra (Doug) Jangraw. He has five grandchildren Rebecca (Jon) Ophardt, David Jangraw, Saer Coulter, Audrey Coulter and Wyeth Coulter. He is also blessed with sisters-in-law Shirley Coulter and Carolyn Nagler, four nieces and nephews, and a large extended family and group of friends that he loved dearly. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 9:30 AM at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 75 East Avenue, Lockport, NY. Burial will follow at North Ridge Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a lunch at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church afterwards. Calling hours will be held at Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee Street, Lockport, NY, on Monday, April 20th, from 7 PM to 9 PM and Tuesday, April 21st from 2 PM to 4 PM and 7 PM to 9 PM. In lieu of flowers the family would encourage donations to the Emmanuel or North Ridge United Methodist Churches, the New York State Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education, the Western New York Land Conservancy or a charity of your choice. <h3>Visitation</h3> Monday, April 20th, from 7 PM to 9 PM Tuesday, April 21st from 2 PM to 4 PM and 7 PM to 9 PM. <h3>Services</h3> A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 9:30 AM at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 75 East Avenue, Lockport, NY. <h3>Interment</h3> North Ridge Cemetery