Ethel Marie Blackburn Coleman Wilcox

Mrs. Ethel Marie Blackburn Coleman Wilcox, 83, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away November 19, 2013. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 29, at the Ebenezer AME Church, 3808 Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri. Entombment will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery South, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

Ethel Marie Blackburn Coleman Wilcox was born on November 18, 1930 in Kansas City, Kansas. She was born to Harrison and Ida May Blackburn. Ethel was the youngest of twelve children. She was preceded in death by her parents and eight of her siblings.

Ethel received her education in the Kansas City, Kansas public school system and graduated from Sumner High School in 1948. Soon after, she married Vernon T. Coleman and their union produced three children, Vernon T. Coleman Jr., who preceded her in death on April 22, 2013, Patricia M. Coleman and Dwayne Coleman (Lalani).

Ethel retired from the Internal Revenue Service in 1985 after over thirty years of service as a tax examiner. In 1992 she married James H. Wilcox Jr., who preceded her in death. During their marriage they joined Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, where she was a member until her passing. Ethel enjoyed a full life with James (aka “Wilcox”) and had the pleasure of being a second mother to his five children, James H. Wilcox, III (Brenda), William Wilcox, Eric Wilcox, Lorita Anderson (Tyrone) and Janette Wilcox.

Ethel leaves to cherish her memory eight grandchildren, LeRon Fields, Valoree Fields, Kenneth Stewart (Maribelle), James Stewart Jr. (Arriel), Christopher Stewart, Dwayne Coleman Jr., LaWaynia Coleman, and Sirena Ulloa (Jason), as well as, eleven great grandchildren, Monique Robinson, Davontae Fields, LeRon Fields, Jr., Estavion Fields, Bryce Copeland, Shawn Holt, Jr., Bianca Stewart, Aniyah Stewart, Logan Stewart, Amy Ulloa and Maya Ulloa.

Ethel enjoyed reading. Not a day went by without her reading the newspaper or a book for hours at a time. Her love for family was immeasurable. There was nothing she enjoyed more those family gatherings on holidays, birthdays or for any other reason. Ethel was an avid traveler. She enjoyed trips cruises and family reunions, visiting places like Hawaii, the Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands with Wilcox, her children, sisters and their spouses. Her compassion and empathy touched the lives of her family and many others. Condolences may be offered at www.mtmoriah-freeman.