Libby Coleman Cline

Libby was born in the small farming community of Springfield, Kentucky, in the Mordecai Lincoln House, to Louis G. and Mary Arthur Cecil Kelly. She grew up on the family farm with her parents and six beloved siblings. Her childhood days were spent running barefoot through the fields, riding horseback with her sisters, skating on frozen ponds in her brother’s borrowed wool socks, and enjoying all that living in the country offered. She graduated from St. Catherine’s Academy, a private, Catholic all-girls school where she was educated by the loving and supportive Dominican Sisters of Peace. It was an environment where she made lifelong friends and cherished memories. After graduation, Libby moved to Frankfort, Kentucky to attend finishing school. There she met, and ultimately married, one of the most eligible bachelors in Frankfort, the President of the Bachelor’s Club, Lambert Y. “Bert” Coleman. Bert had no plans to marry, but Libby had other plans for Bert, which led to an adventurous and full life of 51 years together!

Libby and Bert moved from Kentucky to Chattanooga for Bert’s career just after they were married, where they settled into a welcoming Catholic Community, and were early members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (OLPH). Libby was a member of the St. Theresa Circle, Ladies of Charity, Ava Maria Circle and a bridge club where she and her many multifaceted friends gathered monthly to play bridge and socialize for over 40 years. Libby was an early advocate of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, a movement emphasizing a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. Libby traveled internationally to both Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Betania, Venezuela with faithful friends on pilgrimages to learn about and experience the apparition sites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She also traveled throughout the United States to lectures, seminars, private homes, convents and monasteries in pursuit, study and practice of her very personal faith. She was a member of the Schoenstatt Apostolic movement and a frequent volunteer at Memorial Hospital.

Through her extensive Catholic book collection, hundreds of prayer cards, thousands of tapes made for giveaways, and her well worn family Bible, Libby’s pursuit of knowledge of the Catholic Church was unsurpassed. Her lifelong commitment to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her enduring faith led her to live the example of Christ daily, and to share her faith enthusiastically with everyone she encountered.

Family, friends and faith, not in that order, were the drivers of Libby’s life. She was an incredibly devoted and dedicated Mother to four rambunctious boys, a very loving and involved grandmother, everybody’s favorite Aunt and a close friend to all who knew her well. Whenever Libby touched a life, she created memories of a refined, yet feisty, beautiful lady, known for her upbeat spirit, her big welcoming smile, her sweet demeanor and her unwavering kindness. Libby was love personified, which invited everyone to love her in return.

Libby lived an upbeat, positive and joyful life that was an example and inspiration to anyone who spent time with her. Her motto for life was, “happiness is a choice.” All about family, she could be seen and heard at all her boys’ many ball games, wrestling matches and swim meets. Early in her marriage to Bert, she enjoyed camping with the kids at numerous parks and camps and participating in outdoor activities. Throughout her life, she enthusiastically took daily walks, often leading family and friends at a fast pace, wherever their paths took them. Libby loved and cherished all her family, on both the Coleman and Kelly sides. She made sure that her sons spent time with and created memories with their many aunts and uncles and their 60 first cousins, with frequent trips to visit her and Bert’s Kentucky families. In Kentucky and Indiana Libby formed lifelong bonds with many of her nieces and nephews. Everybody loved their “Aunt Libby”, because she spent quality time with them and made each of them feel special. The family would like to thank the many cousins that were part of her life. She truly adored all of you.

At 73 years young, after Bert’s passing, surprisingly, Libby married her friend of many years, Earl E. “Bo” Cline, 10 years her senior, both ready for the next phase of their lives. Libby continued to be the great hostess and faithful servant she always was, welcoming family and friends to her home of 60 plus years. Strangers, cousins, family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were constant visitors in her life throughout these later years. There were many gatherings with delicious, home-cooked meals around the table, conversations over a glass of wine, at 5:00 each evening, and overnight guests who stayed up late and talked throughout the night. Libby’s well-known open-door policy and welcoming ways made everyone feel right at home and like a member of her extended family, and they were!

The last year and a half of Libby’s life was spent at Alexian Village Tennessee on Signal Mountain, a Catholic Community, where she dreamed of living in retirement. She was a resident in Memory Care, where she faced the cruel fate of Alzheimer’s disease with humor, unwavering faith, spirit and love. At Alexian, Libby touched the lives of her fellow residents and staff alike. She shared her gift of love and faith, and in return, was loved by the entire community.

Libby was the last surviving Kelly sibling. She was preceded in death by her father, Louis G. Kelly, her mother Mary Arthur Cecil Kelly, and her husbands, Lambert Y. “Bert” Coleman, Earl E. “Bo” Cline and her son, Jim Coleman. Libby is survived by her three sons, Tom Coleman of Chattanooga, TN, Joe Coleman (Julie) of Atlanta, GA and Tim Coleman (Leigh Ann) of Signal Mountain, TN; grandchildren Joe Coleman Jr. (Liz), Shannon Coleman Reynolds (Joe), great grandchildren Sarah Elizabeth Coleman (Libby’s namesake), Ansley and Grant Reynolds, all of Atlanta, GA. Libby is also survived by Terry Jacob (Mike) of Gore, VA and Scotty Cline of Hixson, TN.

A special, loving thank you to Karl Schneller, who was at Libby’s side throughout her final years and became a member of our family. Karl, you made Libby happy. She enjoyed her time with you and the many activities you did together. Additionally, Dr. Terry Melvin, you are an amazing, compassionate, tireless worker for the elderly, with a great sense of humor. You made a difficult journey bearable. We also send our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful, thoughtful caregivers in the Memory Care Residence at Alexian Village Tennessee, on Signal Mountain. You know who you are, you made Mom feel at home, which was the core of her being. You supported her in her daily life, you were there for her when she needed love, attention, diversion and affection. You are the best, and the family is forever in your debt.

A funeral Mass will be held Monday, November 3, at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 501 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, TN, with Father Mike Nolan officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road, on Sunday, November 2, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with Rosary Service starting at 6:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m., where Libby will be interred with the love of her life, “Bert” Coleman.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 501 S. Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412 or Notre Dame High School, 2701 Vermont Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com