A book of memories celebrating Ralph Coate's 44 year teaching career at the Meridian (formerly Macon) High School
Monday, September 17, 2007
Goodbye, Friend
It is with deep sadness that I relay the message that Ralph Coate died this weekend.
I'm so deeply grateful that we had a chance to let him know how much he was loved while he was still with us.
1 comment:
Anonymous
said...
Mom (Mary) and I (Paula) were alone with Dad when he died. To see such a strong man die to say the least was like losing life itself. Being his daughter in law was such a honor. I learned so much from him. Having his unconditional love was amazing. Even as his daughter in law he was still intimidating. I was one of few who would actually argue back with him. Dad gave so much to others that he rarely took care of himself. The last year of teaching he was very ill and did not share it with anyone. We kept thinking and asking and he kept shrugging us off. He spent a week with Loren (his youngest son) at the Mayo Clinic who did not even realize how sick he was. The night we found out how ill he was, he called me at home at 10 pm at night to tell me he thought he was having a stroke, being the stroke coordinator at St. Mary's Hospital, I immediately went to his house. I thought he was having a stroke until we got to the hospital (I was in the ambulance with him) and he had a seizure. When the Emergency Room physician came to get me from the room and walked with me to the CT Scan that was pulled up I realized that it was not what we thought but something much much worse. A brilliant man with the worst most agressive brain tumor ever. We wondered how he was going to manage retirement. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity to enjoy it. We miss him greatly and will love him forever!
Paula Coate Daughter in law wife to Loren and mother to his two grandson's Aaron and Jacob
1 comment:
Mom (Mary) and I (Paula) were alone with Dad when he died. To see such a strong man die to say the least was like losing life itself. Being his daughter in law was such a honor. I learned so much from him. Having his unconditional love was amazing. Even as his daughter in law he was still intimidating. I was one of few who would actually argue back with him. Dad gave so much to others that he rarely took care of himself. The last year of teaching he was very ill and did not share it with anyone. We kept thinking and asking and he kept shrugging us off. He spent a week with Loren (his youngest son) at the Mayo Clinic who did not even realize how sick he was. The night we found out how ill he was, he called me at home at 10 pm at night to tell me he thought he was having a stroke, being the stroke coordinator at St. Mary's Hospital, I immediately went to his house. I thought he was having a stroke until we got to the hospital (I was in the ambulance with him) and he had a seizure. When the Emergency Room physician came to get me from the room and walked with me to the CT Scan that was pulled up I realized that it was not what we thought but something much much worse.
A brilliant man with the worst most agressive brain tumor ever.
We wondered how he was going to manage retirement. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity to enjoy it.
We miss him greatly and will love him forever!
Paula Coate
Daughter in law wife to Loren and mother to his two grandson's Aaron and Jacob
Post a Comment