Myrtle M Coleman (née Gullett), age 82 fell asleep in death Feb 23,2011 at the Largo Medical Center Indian Rocks campus in Largo, Fla. Born in Elyria Ohio, she lived most of her life in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Largo with her husband in 2001. Myrtle was involved in her Bible ministry and enjoyed crocheting blankets for her loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 61 years Alfred (Hap) Coleman, sons Robert ( Mary), Richard (Laura), David, Michael (Laura) and Daniel (Dana); daughters Debra Jones ( Kenneth), Susan Berry, Rachel Schilling ( Robert), Judith Barclay ( Mark), Linda Freeman (Doug), Lisa Coleman and Jennifer Saunders (Shawn); brothers Bill and Bob Gullett; sister Shirley Kantura; 25 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Mom frequently talked about how as a child she loved to be with her grandparents on the farm they had. She had special fondness for her grandpa. She often helped tend to the animals and worked along to prepare a meal that would sometimes include running after the chicken who just lost his head which was a comical memory she shared. Even though she came from a broken family she didn’t allow that to keep her from showing unselfish love to her family and friends.
It was never a surprise to find Myrtle in her garden preparing the soil, preparing each seed with care, then tending to the newly sprouted vegetables and flowers. A wide variety of delicious food came from the harvest, canning anything from peaches, beans, tomatoes and making her own sauerkraut. She was so happy to share this experience, teaching her children to share in the joy of gardening and it’s benefits and rewards. She taught her girls to cook and bake and her boys to be good husbands; preparing them for when they had a family of their own one day. She was known for her wonderful hospitality, no one left her home hungry. If they did, it was their own fault because there were always some goodies she would put together for anyone who came to visit. Many friends remember the delicious food served at special occasions, such as a wedding or at a building of a Kingdom Hall.
She loved the trips to Florida each winter season, loving the beach, sunshine, Disney, and camping. Often she had a new born to care for but never complained. She truly found contentment just being with her family. Mom was very approachable and never was too busy to listen to her children no matter how minor a problem may have appeared to her, she recognized that it was major to her child and would show loving kindness. She was ready to heal a troubled heart. She viewed each of her children as a gift from her heavenly father caring for them the best she knew how. She had 12 children and loved each one and appreciated each ones special abilities and strengths that made them who they are, special, each one. Mom's response to those who asked "How she had so many children?" was "Well they didn’t all come at once." Some reasoned that she had so many because she must have been hard of hearing, because every night Hap would ask "Do you want to go to bed or what?" She would say " WHAT?”
Many of Myrtle's friends have said she was the most loving and caring person they ever met. Her love for her great-grandchildren and grandchildren flowed like a river and she preciously viewed the birth of each of her children as a tender moment in time. She loved her husband unconditionally and people often saw Myrtle and her husband holding hands as if they were newlyweds. She affectionately called her husband "Happy". He called her "Babe." They were married 61 years, how many can say that? On the occasion when in Hawaii celebrating their 50th Anniversary, in front of many people attending a luau they were asked, “What is your secret on how you remained together all these years? Their response was " Humor, we don't take things so seriously!" Myrtles dear Hap took great care of his precious bride and mother of his children till the end, and has the hope of continuing their love for each other in the near future.
Mom's beautiful smile drew people to her and even strangers felt at ease and willingly opened up their souls to her. She was a kind woman who put the needs of others before her own. Mom used her gift, telling all whom she met about the wonderful future prospect of living in Gods newly established world. Leaving the latest journals of the Watchtower and Awake with waitresses and restaurant workers, she never missed an opportunity to share the wonderful good news that she treasured so much. “ Here, I would like to leave these with you, Honey."
That was her way.
She was comforting under difficult circumstances, positive during many trials and loyal to her family and friends. She was able to be all these things because of her unfading love for her heavenly father Jehovah.
As Mom sleeps, she is in the best place a person can be--and that is in Jehovah's memory. The time will come when her faithful husband, children, grand children, great-grandchildren, sister and brothers, nieces and nephews, and sons-and daughters-in-law will be able to witness her resurrection to life on a cleansed earth, a paradise, where death will no longer be an enemy. She will be alive, young again and looking for all her loved ones.
She will be searching for YOU!
Will she rejoice at seeing your face and will you feel her warm embrace once again?
It is up to each one of us to prove the same faithfulness that she has shown, yes God will give us the gift of life, too, if we only hold our integrity to the end.
And we can just imagine her saying "HONEY, I'M SO GLAD YOU MADE IT!"
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A Memorial talk will be held March 12, 2:00 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 9500 Lindberg Blvd, Olmsted falls, Ohio 44138 (440) 427-0340
Afterwards Myrtle's family warmly invites all in attendance to join them at a comfort reception for food and refreshments.
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