Obituary of Shirley Coulter

Shirley N. Coulter passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. Shirley was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Shirley was born in 1927 in Baltimore, MD, and grew up in Irondequoit (Rochester) NY. She graduated from Cornell University's College of Human Ecology in 1949, majoring in Early Childhood Education. After college, Shirley took a teaching position in Buffalo, NY. She married James W. Coulter in 1950, settling in Lockport. They had three children: David, Debra, and James. In 1966, Shirley founded a nursery school at Emmanuel Methodist Church in Lockport. She served as director of the school until she and Jim moved to Medford, NJ, in 1971. There she founded another nursery school at the Medford United Methodist Church, which she directed until she and Jim returned to Lockport in 1978 to run Coulter Farms. Shirley was an active member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church for many years, serving the church in many roles. She was also an active member of her Mother's Club, a group who supported and learned about child rearing together in the 1950's and still meet as grandparents and great grandparents today. She served many chapter leadership roles in P.E.O., a philanthropic organization which supports education for women and valued this organization's goals and the friendships she formed there. She served as the Secretary of the North Ridge Burial Association and as a Notary Public for many years. She also participated in P.T.O., Kenan Center, College Club, League of Women Voters and many other organizations over the years. Shirley was devoted to her family and she and Jim helped as grandparents with Jim's (Penny) and Debra's (Doug) kids from Massachusetts to California. They attended plays, musicals, athletic events and parties with love and devotion. Shirley and Jim celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family on the homestead at North Ridge in 2001. They traveled frequently, making several car trips across this great country and touring abroad with long-time friends David and Beverly Fish. Shirley is survived by sons David and James (Penny) Coulter, daughter Debra (Doug) Jangraw; five grandchildren Rebecca (Jon) Ophardt, David (Kristin) Jangraw, Saer Coulter, Audrey Coulter and Wyeth Coulter; and two great grandchildren, Adelyn Ophardt and Coulter Ophardt. She is also blessed with two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Nagler and Shirley B. Coulter, four nieces and nephews and a large and beloved extended family and circle of friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, November 25, at 10:30am at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 75 East Avenue, Lockport, N.Y. Friends and family are invited to a lunch at the church following the service. Burial will precede the service, at 9am at North Ridge Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St., Lockport, NY on Sunday, November 24, from 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage donations to Emmanuel United Methodist Church; P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (c/o Wendy Harris, 6 Wilson Parkway, Lockport, NY 14094); or a charity of your choice. <h3>Visitation</h3> Calling hours will be held at Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St., Lockport, NY on Sunday, November 24, from 4-8pm. <h3>Services</h3> A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, November 25, at 10:30am at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 75 East Avenue, Lockport, N.Y. Friends and family are invited to a lunch at the church following the service. <h3>Interment</h3> Burial will precede the service, at 9am at North Ridge Cemetery.