Mary Jane Coates

Mary Jane Coates, age 86 of Perham, MN died Sunday, May 13, 2018 (Mother’s Day) at her home, comforted by her children.

Mary Jane Weis was born September 8, 1931 in Perham to Rudy and Mary (Zelinski) Weis. After graduation from Perham High School, she moved to Tacoma, WA to assist her aunt with a newborn.

While working at Fort Lewis, WA she met Charles T. Coates. They were united in marriage on June 12, 1954. Over the course of the next ten years, they lived in several different locations including: Munich, Germany, California, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

After the untimely death of her husband in 1966, Mary Jane moved back to Perham to be with family and raise her three children.

She worked as a secretary for Perham attorney Jim Daly until he retired, and she had a second 21-year career as a librarian at the Perham Public Library until her retirement in 2005.

Mary Jane will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, sister, and aunt. She enjoyed spending time with family, reading, dancing, playing cards, and an “occasional” trip to the casino.

Surviving Mary Jane are her children Tom (Vicky) and Julie King; her grandchildren Sean (Jessica) Barker, Aaron, Leah, and Sarah Coates; her sister Jackie Friedsam and Jackie’s children Dan, Jim, Kathy, and Mark.

Preceding Mary Jane in death were her parents; her husband; her daughter Mary; and her son-in-law Phil King.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with parish prayers at 7:00 on Friday, May 18 at Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service. Visitation will resume beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 19 at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Perham. Burial will be held in St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Perham.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com

Mary Jane's Memorial Folder