Milton-Freewater, OR - Laura Jean "Jean" Coe, born February 28, 1936, in Walla Walla, Washington, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025. The third of seven children born to the late Gerald and Margaret Gibson of Waitsburg, Washington, Jean spent her childhood in Walla Walla County and graduated from Waitsburg High School. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to Whitman College, where she earned a degree in Biology and met her beloved husband of 66 years, Edwin Arnold "Arnold" Coe. They married on March 27, 1958, during their senior year.

Their life together began with a honeymoon at the Coe Family Cabin on the Imnaha River, a place that became the center of their life together. In 1960, Jean and Arnold moved to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, with their first child, Bruce. While Arnold taught, Jean worked in a Walla Walla doctor's office. By 1964, their family had grown to include Valerie and Bradley, and they embarked on a Volkswagen Beetle journey to Indiana for Arnold to pursue his Master's degree in Geology. The arrival of their fourth child, Laura, preceded their move to Hillsboro in 1968, followed by a period in southern California before returning to Milton-Freewater in 1974.

Milton-Freewater was where they raised their family until 1986, when Arnold transitioned to education administration. This new chapter took them to North Powder in 1987, then Baker City, and finally Cove, Oregon, where they built a home and retired. In 2018, they returned to the Walla Walla area.

From 1975 to 1986, Jean was a school bus driver and secretary at Pleasant View School. Her professional life continued as a deputy clerk for the Baker County ESD during their time in North Powder and Baker City. Jean and Arnold were both very involved at Ascension School in Cove, recently completing a joint fundraising effort for the school's new multi-use facility, aptly named the Coe-Kerr building.

Jean cherished raising her children and found joy in sewing, knitting, canning, gardening, and supporting her children's activities. She was known to have sewn a snow skiing outfit from her favorite catalog, Daisy Kingdom, for every family member. Her love for the outdoors extended to fishing on the Walla Walla and Imnaha rivers. She became accomplished in fly fishing, venturing to renowned rivers in Montana and Idaho.

Jean is lovingly remembered by her husband Arnold, sons Bruce and Bradley, daughter Laura Schilke, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Valerie Coe, brother Gerald Gibson, and sisters Cecilia Tomlin and Judith Ann Gibson.

A Celebration of Life and Remembrance will be held at Ascension School in Cove, Oregon, on May 10, 2025, at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Blue Mountain Cemetery in College Place, Washington, on May 12, 2025, at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jean's name to Ascension School, 1104 Church Street, Cove, Oregon 97824.

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