My heart goes out to all of you. May you rest in eternal peace Mr. Coe. Love Always -Rose Petersen ❤️

I think my parents used 6-year-old me as an informal chaperone when Jim would take my sister Mary Lou to the A&W root beer stand in Auburn, Indiana.  I would beg to be allowed to accompany them because the root beer was just so GOOD, served in a chilled glass.  Jim would good-naturedly tolerate my interference in his romantic endeavors, and would ask me simple math questions to keep me quiet in the back seat thinking about them…. And drinking my root beer, of course.  In two or three years I was the ring bearer at their wedding.
Jim taught me how to play chess when I was age 11 or 12 (I think).  He would patiently wait while I thought through my options for each play, always the encouraging teacher, teaching me tactics and strategy, forks, pins, uncovered attacks, and so on.   As a high school math teacher, he organized the chess club, and supported it enthusiastically for decades.
Sometime in those years we’d occasionally sit down and play trumpet duets together, out of a duet book my trumpet teacher gave me.
Jim taught me how to drive a stick shift on his old VW bus, when I was in high school.  The old four-banger lasted for decades after that (probably with a new transmission or two) and eventually became something of a collector’s item, with constant maintenance at which he became quite proficient.    He used to take his family to VW bus conventions, which produced some hysterically funny photographs.  Ever seen a herd of VW busses chugging along, going somewhere slowly?
Jim and Mary Lou sent me $10 per month when I went away to college, leaving Arizona for college in Anderson, Indiana.  It was a goodly sum of money in those days, which sometimes made the difference between eating and not, when the college cafeteria was closed.
Eventually they retired the VW bus and fitted out an old school bus for camping across the country in style.

I was fortunate to know Jim in two capacities. First, I was a sophomore student in geometry class at McClintock; he helped me make sense of geometry (and allowed me to read Flatlands for an assignment) and taught me to appreciate mathematics in general. A few years later, I joined the faculty at McClintock, and I saw Jim in a new light: in addition to being a fine math teacher, he was a real advocate for students and teachers. I'm glad that I knew him as a student and a colleague.

Dear Mary Lou and family,
I am so sorry to read of Jim’s passing.  I remember mom and dad always speaking of how much they liked Jim and how much fun you and he made sure they had when they visited Arizona.
Our thoughts are with you.
Ruth and Ken Knudson

 Someone who genuinely cared; later came to realize why?! A Godly man who lived by example, and never once preached, or sought to build himself up! You will be missed Mr. Coe! 🙂

I remember riding in that VW bus with Mr Coe.  I was in the chess club and he took a few of us out in that Vee-Dub to collect aluminum cans to cash in for funds to support the chess club. 

He knew exactly where and when to go, Tempe Buttes right after ASU home games.

Many fans would climb the butte to watch the games from up there.  They left behind an abundance of aluminum cans.

He taught us the the most efficient manner to collect the cans.

Start at the top of the mountain and basically play kick the can.  Yep, just kick all the cans down to the bottom.

Then circle the bottom with plastic bags to gather up the cans for loading into his bus.

It was a lot of fun. 😊

RIP Mr. Coe you were truly an inspiration to all that had the pleasure of knowing you. 🥰

The first time I traveled out West, Jim took Laura and I camping north of Flagstaff.  The next day we went on to the Grand Canyon--what a wonderful experience.  I ended up spending a couple weeks with the Coe's and I became very close to what I refer to as my Arizona family.  The last time I visited with Jim we sat out by the pool and talked like I had not been away for years.  We then took a familiar walk and had great conversation.  While I was very sad to hear of Jim's death, I know he was one of great faith and I know he is with our Savior.  To Mary Lou and the rest of my Arizona family:  I love you all very much and trust that you are surrounded by God's Presence and God's Peace.  Blessings to you all.--Riege

 Uncle Jim as we called him even though he is my dad's first cousin.   
I remember when we would gather at his mom's house in Indiana, camping a time or two with the family., Christmas of 1975 when I said it was strange not having snow for Christmas and Uncle Jim saying.. snow what's that.  Then I didn't know he grew up in Indiana.  And going to Christmas Eve service in that glass church.. which by the way really had a big impact on me..  Then him showing up at my open house when I graduated from high school.  Although we haven't seen each other in like 20 years.  The memories will always remain.  I look forward to seeing him when we all get to heaven... What a glorious day that will be!  Love you all.

Karen

OBITUARIO

James Lawrence Coe

5 septiembre, 1939 – 6 agosto, 2020

Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens

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