Born to James and Clemence “Bobby” Coles, John grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Brophy College Preparatory and Arizona State University. He earned his PhD at Oregon State University. John excelled at football, basketball and swimming as a young man, but perhaps his proudest athletic moment was his hole-in-one at Wildcreek Golf course in 1997. He lived life as an unwavering fan of Sun Devils football.
He met his wife, Kathleen Bell in 1970 at ASU, drawn by the love that radiated from her gaze and sustained five decades of marriage. After living in Arizona and Oregon, John and Kathleen settled for 35 years in Northern Nevada, where they raised four children. He worked as a counselor and psychology professor at Truckee Meadows Community College, devoting 35 years in service of the students. A consummate follower of Christ, John was a member of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Snows and St. Rose of Lima parishes. John retired in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he quickly found love and solace in the welcoming community of Mary’s Woods.
John connected with strangers and loved ones alike through a perpetual twinkle in his eye and often acted the prankster. After taking the Peter Pan Oath at age 7, he never gave up on the whimsy and playfulness of childhood. He took care to build special moments with each of his children and grandchildren. John remained proud of his children’s individual accomplishments and bragged about them often.
John was a pacifist who felt pain at the very concept of violence. At a young age, John’s mother challenged him to create the love he sometimes struggled to see in the world. This challenge forged the throughline of his life. John nurtured a powerful relationship with God that formed the basis of his marriage and several deep friendships. Guided by the Holy Spirit, John helped countless individuals through his counseling. He was an early practitioner of EMDR and Heart Math therapy, tools he used to help his clients with math anxiety and stress. He is the author of Breathe Only Love. His goal, he often said, was not to make one million dollars in his lifetime, but to help one million people. His family has no doubt he achieved this goal.
John is preceded in death by his parents and brother Dr. James Henry Coles, Jr. He is survived by his wife Kathleen; children Anjeanette (Scott), Barbara, Kevin (Colette) and Karen (Jason); and grandchildren Kyle, Devin, Ethan, Abby, Jameson, Henry, Dylan and Zachary; and siblings William, Andrew, Donald and Mary.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m. on April 30th at Mary’s Woods. In lieu of flowers, tribute gifts in John Michael Coles’ name can be made to support the resident fund at Mary’s Woods, 17400 Holy Names Dr., Lake Oswego, OR, 97034.
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