Nancy was born June 26, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan. Nancy graduated from University High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan where she met her future husband Milton Kenneth Coit. They were married on August 24, 1946. Milt and Nan were the parents of three children, Kathleen, Kenneth and Carla. Nan was a stay-at- home mom and when the children were all in school she went back to college. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in American Literature from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 1963. Nan began her teaching career in 1964 starting at Linwood School for one year and then spent twenty-five years at the Trailwood School in the Shawnee Mission District. She chose to teach third grade because she especially loved children of that age and watching the transformation as they became proficient readers. She then received a master’s degree from Webster College in 1975. Nan retired from teaching school in 1991.
Nan has enjoyed her retirement spending time with her grandchildren, doing volunteer work and playing scrabble. She has been a member of Country Club United Methodist Church since 1963. She was a life member of the NEA and belonged to the Johnson County Teachers Association.
Survivors include her daughter Kathleen Ann Staab and husband David L. Staab, her son Kenneth Jay Coit, her daughter Carla Nan Tays and husband Mickey Tays, her niece Becky Bell Gillis and her nephews Steven Bell and Scott Bell. Nan was especially proud of her grandchildren Brandon & Eva Briscoe, Amanda Briscoe & Stacey Cooper and Ryan Staab & Victoria Da Ponte and her great-grandchildren Shepherd, Clementine and Elouise Briscoe.
Nan was preceded in death by her husband Milton Kenneth Coit, her parents Crucy Talbert Bell and Jay Thompson Bell, her brother Jay Thompson Bell Jr, her son David Alan Coit, her granddaughter Lindsay Renee Briscoe and her grandson Austin Lawrence Briscoe.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday September 15, 2021 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131 with a 2:00pm Visitation and 2:30pm Service.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks for donations to “Lead to Read” an organization that supports mobilizing community volunteers to read with children in elementary schools. Donations in her name can be sent to Lead to Read KC, 6022 N. Strathbury Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64151; https://www.leadtoreadkc.org/
