Norma “Jean” (Pate) Coulter

When a multitude of broken hearts are left behind, it’s obvious that the life one has lived was a good one. We were not ready for Jean to go, but the Lord was ready for her.
Norma “Jean” (Pate) Coulter, 85, passed away surrounded by loved ones in Mercy Hospital in Springfield on Sunday, March 27, 2022 from unexpected complications after what was supposed to be a routine procedure. She was born Feb. 21, 1937, to Ted and Ethel (Daniels) Pate in Cedar County. She grew up in Cedar County and graduated from Stockton High School in 1955.
Jean met her husband, Joe Coulter, on a blind date in Stockton. The two fell in love and were married on March 24, 1956 at her grandparents’ house. After living in Kansas City for a few years, Jean and Joe moved back to Cedar County. They began farming and custom harvesting, working side by side following the wheat harvest trail for many years. They retired and turned the business over to their sons in 1991.
Jean was baptized in 1982 and was a member of the Filley Christian Church.
Jean loved spending time with her family playing games and enjoying her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jean was never still. She always had a project going whether it was one of the many, many quilts she made for her family or a jigsaw puzzle. She was a wonderful cook, and no one was hungry after a visit to Grandma’s house. Jean always had a big garden and gave away lots of produce to everyone who visited. She was always working on puzzle books and would finish them from cover to cover.
She was such a hard worker and if there was a job to do, you had better help or get out of the way because Jean would run over you!
Grandma Jean took care of us all. She made everyone feel welcome and served others with her loving spirit. No one who walked in the door was a stranger. She was always ready with a snack, a game of cards, and the best hugs. We’re not sure how the world is going to go on without Grandma here to run it for us. We will all miss “Grandma’s house” more than we can say.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Jack and Billy; and her husband of 64 years, Joe.
She is survived by her two sons, Robert, and his wife, Leesa – Stockton; Ron and his wife, Robin – Jerico Springs; one brother, J.C. and his wife, Shirley – Stockton; 19 grandchildren and their spouses, Jenelle and John, Jessica and Jared, Chance and Emily, Ryan and Elisabet, Courtney and Joel, Camden and Em, Brennan and Shelby, Sawyer and Allie, Chayson, and Bryson and Kira; 21 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Ronald McDonald House.
Services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 31, in Bland-Brumback Funeral Home, Stockton with burial in Stockton Cemetery, Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31, in the funeral home.