Madeline Boston Coe
Madeline Boston Coe, 98, joined her heavenly Father on Sunday, February 12, 2017. She passed away peacefully in Parkersburg, W.Va., surrounded by devoted family and friends.
Madeline was born Jan. 27, 1919, in Rockport, W.Va. She was the daughter of the late John Edward and Fern Rosaline Adams Boston.
She was a graduate of Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, W.Va., where she enjoyed being involved in theater productions. She graduated with honors from Glenville State Teachers College in Glenville, W.Va. She received a master’s degree in Education from West Virginia University and was just a few credits shy of receiving her doctorate.
She was a dedicated teacher, who taught for over 50 years. She initially started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and went on to teach for many years at Neale School in Vienna. She was well known in the education community, publishing articles on teacher education training and literacy training.
Not only was she a dedicated teacher, but also a dedicated wife to her husband, Glen Junior Coe. They met as children, when his family sold molasses to her family. They have been together for over 65 years.
Madeline was completely devoted to her only child and the love of her life, Sharrel Brown McGrew of Memphis, Tenn. Her son-in-law, Dr. Frank A. McGrew III of Memphis, was Mrs. Coe’s extraordinary physician and cardiologist.
Just like with a fine wine, Madeline only got better with age. She lived an amazing life full of fun and adventure. She traveled extensively, from the Caribbean to Alaska to South America, almost always with her family. One of her most memorable excursions was landing in a seaplane with her daughter, while watching grizzly bears play in the water.
Madeline never met a stranger. She was always ready to strike up a conversation with someone and make new friends. She was a true legend in her time. At the age of 76, she was cast to appear in a major motion film alongside Woody Harrelson and Courtney Love. She appeared on The Today Show in New York on her 80th birthday and even got interviewed by Al Roker.
She loved to sing and dance, no matter what the song. Even at the age of 98, she could sing almost any gospel song or church hymn by heart, often times ending with a little square dance calling, just for good measure. She provided her grandchildren and great-grandchildren many laughs, while dancing to rock-n-roll and doing “the dab.”
Madeline often said, “I love to see people work.” She was always inquisitive about life and people. She didn’t take herself too seriously and knew how to live in the moment. She always knew the right things to say and had a refreshing, optimistic perspective on life.
A lifelong learner, Mrs. Coe always had a book she was reading or a newspaper. She loved word searches, crossword puzzles and anything that kept her brain active and growing.
Madeline is preceded in death by her parents, John and Fern Boston; as well as her four brothers, Harold, Lloyd, Paul and Ed Boston.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Glen Coe of Vienna; her daughter, Sharrel and son-in-law Dr. Frank McGrew III of Memphis, Tenn.; her niece, Judy Fertile of Zion Crossroads, Va.; her grandson, Frank McGrew IV and his wife Neely of Nashville, Tenn.; her granddaughter, Anne and her husband Kemp Conrad of Memphis; and granddaughter Lindsey and her husband Josh Hammond of Memphis.
Madeline was also lucky enough to meet her six great grandchildren: Madeline and Virginia McGrew, Kemp and Coco Conrad, and Sophia and Buster Hammond. She was always the center of their attention and they adored her.
A celebration of Madeline’s extraordinary life will be 3 p.m. today at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, 2333 Pike St., south Parkersburg, WV 26101. A visitation will take place at 2 p.m. today before the service officiated by the Rev. Dr. Gary Nelson.
Heaven has truly gained a gem in our Princess. We take comfort in knowing that she lived an abundant life and is dancing in the arms of our savior Jesus Christ for eternity.