Elaine Wilma Coyle

Elaine Coyle was born on April 16, 1931 in Brown City, Michigan to Mildred and Vertle Van Camp. She grew up with her older brother, Harrison, a strong athlete, as a role model. She herself was Every strong, and chipped in on the farm chores, such as milking the cows and feeding the chickens.

She was surrounded with love from her many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was very competitive (and beautiful) and was crowned Dairy Queen at her local county fair. In high school, Elaine was very involved in the Future Homemakers of America, rising in the organization to the position of president of the Michigan chapter. She was so successful in high school that she was offered a full scholarship to Michigan State University.

One night, when she was in a senior in high school, Elaine and her best friend, Isabelle, met Guerdon Wolfe and his best friend Dale Miller, two young men from Marlette, a nearby town, at a high school dance. Elaine decided to marry Guerdon instead of pursuing her college degree. The ceremony was on June 23, 1950, with Isabelle and Dale as maid of honor and best man, respectively. (They also later married.) Elaine moved to Marlette, where her husband worked with his parents in the mobile home factory that they had started in the 1930's. Elaine had her first child, Gurdon T. Wolfe III, eleven months later. Two years and 4 months later, she had her second child, Allison E Wolfe. During the next few years, Elaine supported her husband and his family in their business, and excelled at bowling. Five years later, she had her third child, Lisa Robin Wolfe, followed a year later by her fourth child, Robert Norman Wolfe.

Shortly thereafter, she split with Guerdon. She and her children moved to Chicago, where she married Frank J. Coyle, a handsome and successful businessman, on July 27, 1960. She adapted beautifully to city life, dedicating herself to several charitable organizations. She had her fifth child, Jennifer Elaine Coyle, when she was thirty, while she was in Chicago.

In 1965, Elaine and Frank decided to relocate with the five children to Windermere, Florida, near Orlando, so their children could live a more outdoors life. At that point, they lived in a home on a lake in the middle of an orange grove, where their children learned to swim, sail and water ski. She continued her volunteer work during this period. Elaine always opened her home to all of her children's friends and was loved by all.

In 1970, Elaine and Frank relocated to West Hartford, Connecticut, closer to her husband's work. Although she only lived there about a year, she and her family enjoyed living in New England.

The draw of sunshine and the beach drew Elaine and Frank back to Florida in 1972, this time to a new condominium, The Bent Palm Club, in Ormond Beach. Elaine and her family thrived in this new home. A few years later, Elaine was asked to be the manager of the property. At this point, Elaine blossomed. She had a natural ability to take care of all the visitors who rented the condominiums, and to keep the property ship-shape. She was so excellent at this work that she kept doing it for over thirty years, until she retired. She lost her husband in 1985. During this time, Elaine started to bowl again, until it was too challenging physically. She also moved her mother in with her from Michigan, and took care of her until her mother's death in 2000.

A few years later, Elaine relocated to El Dorado, a senior residential community in Sun City, Arizona, near one of her daughters, Lisa, and her daughter, Julia. Elaine was able to spend many great years here, with frequent visits from all her children and grandchildren, who were living across the country. Bob and his wife, Mary Allison, who lived in Florida, brought their two daughters, Rachel and Audrey. Jennifer and her husband, Ned, who lived in Atlanta, brought their two children, Harrison and Erin. Allison and Rich, who lived in Texas, visited so much that they bought a house nearby in Litchfield Park, so the family could get together. Also, Ted, who lived in California, brought his husband, Frank, to visit, whenever he could. During these years, Elaine started a lifelong hobby making greeting cards from recycled materials. She sold the cards to fellow residents, donating all proceeds to a fund to assist the employees' children. She also made cards for her family.

In 2016, Elaine relocated again, to Frisco, Texas, where Allison and her husband Rich found her a beautiful new home at another senior residential community, Watermere. She lived very comfortably and peacefully for many years. During these years, her daughter Allison and her husband Rich regularly brought her delicious and healthy home-cooked meals. Her granddaughter Julia, who was living in California after college, met her future husband, Tyler, who, by amazing chance, was also from the Frisco area. They settled down there and started a family. They gave Elaine her first two great-grandchildren, Tinsley and Jade, who brought her great joy. Each of her children loved to come and visit Elaine whenever possible. Elaine continued to make cards, focusing on cards for each of her family members. Each family member still has a priceless collection of these cards.

After a brief illness, Elaine died on June 30, 2023, surrounded by her daughters, Lisa and Jennifer and her granddaughter, Julia. Her daughters arranged a conference phone call so all of her children could say goodbye. The last thing she heard - her children's voices.

Elaine’s ashes will be interred in the east wall facing the ocean at Grace Lutheran Church in Ormond Beach, Florida, in late August when our family will celebrate her life together at the Bent Palm Club.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Small World www.smallworldwl.org