Deat was born to Ella Shipe Forney and Edward Forney in Harrisburg, PA. She was married in 1945 to Harry Coss, who, after moving to the Peninsula in 1954, taught for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. They had three daughters and were happily married until Harry’s death in 1977.
Deat worked as an office manager for many doctors from 1957 to 1982, primarily Ear, Nose and Throat Drs. Mahoney and Dodd. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Monterey for 69 years and involved with DeMolay when Harry served as “Dad Advisor”.
Deat married Vaughn Ausman, a counselor at Monterey High School, in 1978. They were married 22 years and enjoyed traveling in their retirement years.
Deat was a kind and loving wife, mother and grandmother who never met a stranger.
Deat was preceded in death by her husbands (Harry and Vaughn), her brother (John Forney), and sister (Dorothy Prowell). She is survived by her daughters, Barbara (John) Harbell of Dallas; Nancy (Tom) Fitzwater of Cupertino; JoAnne Coss of Pebble Beach; her two grandchildren, Paige Fitzwater and Blake Fitzwater (Kristen Russo); step-daughter Lynne (David) Croll, step-son Vaughn (Sally Hoyt) Ausman, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 22 at the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Mission Memorial Endowment Fund of the the church, 501 El Dorado Street, Monterey, CA 93940, or a charity of your choice.
