Marjorie Emerson Coates

Born in Haswell, Colorado on January 1, 1927, Marjorie was the second daughter of Clyde F. and Mildred Vesta Galbraith. She grew up in Haswell and attended a county schoolhouse. In her teens, she moved into the home of a family friend with her older sister, Helen, to attend high school in Hugo, Colorado. During the summer before her senior year, Marge and her sisters Helen and Evelyn were becoming increasingly bored with life at home, so their parents sent them off to the big city of Denver, Colorado. These three Galbraith gals were best of friends and did everything together including helping their parents name their baby sister, Linda Lou. They remained close and caused trouble together all throughout their lives.

While working at Gates Rubber Company doing office work with Helen, Marjorie met her future husband. She married William “Bill” Emerson on November 1, 1946, the day of the famous Colorado snowstorm. They moved to Bill’s hometown of Loveland, Colorado in 1948 and welcomed their only son, Jack Emerson, in 1949. Bill passed away in 1985 and Jack in 2020. Following Bill’s death, Marjorie met Keith Howard Coates. Keith had also lost his wife and to Marge’s life he brought comfort and companionship. They fell in love and wed at the Methodist Church in Loveland on May 15, 1988.

Marge was a kind soul who maintained a positive outlook on life. She was always looking to the future and what it might bring. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, riding motorcycles, square dancing and working. She was fun, wild, and feisty. Marge loved her family dearly.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Keith Coates; brother Melvin Galbraith (Verlee) of Luray, VA and sister Jackie Galbraith of Loveland; daughter-in-law Jenny Emerson; and Keith’s daughters Darla Crippen (Bill), Linda Beattie (Brian), Connie Simonds (Scott), and Julie Coates; as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and countless other extended family members.

Along with her first husband William G. Emerson and her son Jack Stevan Emerson, Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents Clyde & Mildred Galbraith; sisters Helen Mathews, Evelyn Hartzel, and Linda Beede; and by her brother Jerry Galbraith, who died in 1955 at the age of 15.

Services will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025 at Resthaven Funeral Home & Memory Gardens beginning with a Viewing at 12:30pm followed by Marjorie's Funeral Service at 1:30pm, after which she will be laid to eternal rest alongside her first husband, Bill. Please join Marjorie's family, following her services, for a light reception and a time of fellowship and remembrance.

Memories of Marjorie and words of condolence for her family are welcome at resthavencolorado.com.