Mary Speaks Coe

Mary Speaks Coe, 85, affectionately known to her family as "Nanny", passed away Thursday, April 18th at her home surrounded by her loving family. Being the second oldest of 4 brothers and 3 sisters, she was an expert multi-tasker from early on and a lead-footed driver of her Olds Delta 98, especially on dirt roads. Mary was an extraordinary person with many talents and interests.......painting and drawing, photography, sewing, home decorating, fashion, cake decorating, needlework, athletics, gardening, canning, horticulture, floral arranging, raising tobacco, and especially caring for all creatures great and small. She loved to expand her mind by reading, which allowed her to travel to many places from the comfort of her own home. Mary was a natural nurse.... she saved many creatures during her life including raising an orphaned baby bird she named Twiggy, and an orphaned opossum she named Oscar.   She had a special affection for hummingbirds and cardinals.  She took in stray dogs and cats of all sizes her whole life, giving them the best care and life that she could regardless of what anyone else thought.  She loved them all.  Her generosity to the helpless and truly innocent came back to her tenfold by virtue of her long life. Mary was also an exceptional cook.  Her potato salad was always the first to go at any covered-dish supper.  Her biscuits were light and fluffy, and her pie crust would have been the envy of Martha Stewart.  You never entered her house without being offered food....and you had better have accepted the first thing that sounded good; otherwise, you would be offered more until you finally took something. After raising her children and many crops of tobacco and vegetables, Mary returned to her previous career at Hanes, where she moved up through the ranks of management very quickly.  After she retired, she cared for her mother-in-law for several years before her passing as she had also done for her beloved husband, Guy Coe, before his passing.  Mary was expertly cared for by her daughter-in-law, Stephanie, 7 days per week for the six months prior to her passing as well as by her granddaughter, Jennifer, her grandson, Nicholas, and her son, Mike.  Their love and care allowed her to remain home, which was very important to her. Mary is survived by her son, Mike Coe, and wife, Stephanie; daughter, Susan Coe, and husband, Dr. Kevin Mello; granddaughter, Jennifer, and partner, Grayson; and grandson, Nicholas, and partner, Faith, along with 3 brothers (Dennis, Jimmy, and Terry) and 2 sisters (Teresa and Rhonda).  She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy, one brother, Junior, and one sister, Shirley. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mountain Valley Hospice, particularly to Melissa, Donna, and Layla for their exceptional care and compassion. A small graveside service will be held Sunday, April 21st, at 2:00 p.m. at Double Creek Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Twin County Humane Society, c/o of Carroll Vet Clinic. 12 Healthy Trail, Hillsville VA 24343. Moody Funeral Service of Mount Airy is serving the Coe family.

Online condolences to www.moodyfuneralservices.com.