Louise Kathleen Thorp

Lucy passed from this Earthly dimension early in the morning of November 12 at the Indian River Cleveland Clinic ICU. She was 72 years old.

Lucy is survived by her loving husband, Virgil. Her brothers, Cecil Coulter of Cocoa Beach, FL, and Eugene Coulter Jr. of Columbia, Mo. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene Sr. and Kathleen Coulter. And her eldest brother Erick Coulter.

Lucy and Virgil had no children, but she cherished all her nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She especially enjoyed those special moments with those wonderful children. She also had no qualms, handing them back to their parents when her playing got them too tired or rambunctious.

Lucy also loved animals, especially rescue kitties. She and Virgil always had at least one adopted feline in the various places they traveled and lived. She leaves four loving furry waifs at home, Ebbie, Sophie and the midnight twins, Clarice (aka Lil’ Poot) and Hannibal.

Born on July 4, 1953, Lucy possessed the appropriate personality of a ‘firecracker.’ For many years she believed the holiday’s fireworks were for her. When she found out it wasn’t, she was appropriately chagrined, but she always had a fondness for the stunning holiday displays over the lagoon.

Lucy was a proud feminist and freethinker. She loved reading books and walking the beaches of the Treasure Coast; fine food and drink; ‘elevated’ party good times; intellectual debates and loving her husband. She found great pleasure sailing with Virgil, on their Hobie Cat in the Indian River Lagoon, watching the dolphins play, salt water in the face and feeling the thrill of gliding with the wind. She was especially fond of music, having played the cello in The Denver Youth Symphony in Colorado. Every form of music from Beethoven and Glinka to John Prine and Jethro Tull filled her heart. She and Virgil would often travel to the mountains of Colorado and Montana for ski vacations.

Lucy was patriotic and firmly believed that the United States Constitution was the best document for freedom, dignity and the liberation of all peoples. She despised bigotry and pretension. One of her most satisfying thrills was attending all three of the “No Kings” rallies in Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie and Stuart this last October.

Lucy was a humanist not only in word, but also in deed. Because her family had an unfortunate history with blindness (95% male children and every other generation of female children were blind), Lucy determined she would donate her corneas to present someone else with the gift of sight. Her survivors are duly proud of her decision.

Lucy met Virgil in Kansas City’s Foolkiller Theater when she auditioned for a play Virgil had written and was directing. She wore a striking outfit with a short miniskirt and high heels and was immediately given a script and put on the stage. She was perplexed that the director would have her repeat takes and keep crossing the stage. She did not realize there were requests from two dubious gentlemen (who later became the couple’s fast friends) sitting in the theater’s gallery asking to have her cross the stage again and again because they thought she had great legs. She did. More than lustful attraction passed between her and Virgil that fateful evening and they spent the next fifty-three years deeply in devoted love together. She gave her husband her heart and he gave her his. She was also a wonderful kisser.

Lucy would want me to tell all her friends from her days at East Coast Truss, the old Foolkiller days and all the friends from The Aware Ones of the Treasure Coast how much being a part of them meant to her. She often thanked me for getting her involved.

We ask that in lieu of flowers please make any gift donations in her memory in support for freedom, justice and equality for all, to either of her favorite organizations; www.professionalleft.blogspot.com/, or, www.aclu.org/.