Joe Ann Coe

Joe Ann “Joan” Langham Coe, 91, of Wesley, Arkansas, passed away March 16, 2026, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was born December 14th, 1934, in her grandfather’s dogtrot log house in Georgetown, Arkansas, the first child of George Langham and Katie Counts.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, James Nicolas Counts and Sophrona Elizabeth Neal, whose families were among the first settlers of Madison County.

She was also preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, John Fielding Langham. Her paternal grandmother was Frances Lenora Duncan of Wesley, Arkansas.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Gary and Max Langham; a sister, Jeanette Laningham, all of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and three children, Charles Mason Coe, Leslie Ann Hendricks, and Kenneth Coe III, all of Atwater, California.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-seven years, Kenneth Sewell Coe Jr.; her sister, Neta Faye Marceaux of Ozark, Arkansas; and her son, Todd Andrew Coe of Wesley, Arkansas. Additional survivors include her daughter-in-law, Kerin Coe (Kenny), and her son-in-law, Larry Hendricks (Leslie), both of Atwater, California; eight grandchildren; 10 great-granddaughters; and three great-grandsons.

Joe Ann served in the United States Air Force during the Cold War, where she met her husband at Randolph AFB in Texas. During their marriage, they lived in Schertz, Texas; Homestead, Florida; Atwater, California; Lakenheath, England; and again in Atwater, until moving home to Madison County, Arkansas, in 2006. In August 2025, she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, so her oldest grandchild, Brandon McCollum, could help care for her and her husband.

While living in Atwater, she graduated from Merced Community College with a degree in general education and journalism, earned a B.A. from Stanislaus State University in Turlock, California, and completed two years of graduate work at Fresno State University in Fresno, California. She later worked as a substitute teacher and, for 12 years, served Laotian refugees as an “English as a second language” teacher and as chair of the Merced County Refugee Advisory Committee.

She trained participants through the Job Training Partnership Act; served on the Merced County Resources Board; worked as program manager for Lao Family Community, Inc.; and served as a job developer for Central Valley Opportunity Center. She also trained in cross-cultural communications and grant writing.

She was a member of the Merced County Housing Resources Board, the Atwater City Planning Commission, the American Heart Association, and the American Planning Association. Before retiring, she owned and operated Coe Consultants.

Joe Ann enjoyed traveling and, with her husband, visited eight European countries, 38 states, and northern Old Mexico. She also enjoyed poetry and art. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an Alaska cruise.

She was a member of Atwater Baptist Church for 35 years and served on various church and regional committees. After returning to Arkansas, she became a member of Black Oak Baptist Church.

In accordance with her wishes, Joe Ann will be cremated and remain with her husband until his passing. A memorial service will be held at that time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Black Oak Baptist Church, 16009 Black Oak Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701; the Women’s Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 420560, Washington, DC 20042; or the Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410.