Dora Steele Coen
Dora Steele Coen passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter in Ellington, Mo., on January 11, 2019 at the age of 93.
She was born October 19, 1925 to Russell “Pappy” Steele and Frieda Ruetschi Steele, the sixth of eight children.
After graduation from Trinity High School in 1943, Dora worked at Hazel Atlas making clay targets for the military.
On February 6, 1946, she married a returning soldier, William A Coen, who worked at Jessop Steel.
They were members of Second Christian Church, later Fairhill Manor Christian Church, where she served as a deaconess.
The couple had two children, Deborah in 1950, and William J. in 1954.
As a full-time wife and mother, Dora helped as room mother at North Franklin Elementary and as Girl Scout leader to Troop 48. Later she was “mom” to a group of teens from Eat’n Park and welcomed them into her home for get-togethers.
After their children left home, Dora and Bill moved first to North Carolina, then Okeechobee, Fla., living there from 1984 to 2012.
Dora’s husband Bill died in September, 2000, of cancer. She cared for him at home until the day of his death.
After her husband’s death, Dora spent summers in Pennsylvania and winters in Florida. In 2012, Dora gave up her home in Florida and moved back to Washington for several years, living at Strabane Trails Village.
In 2014 she moved to Missouri to live with her daughter, Debbie, until her passing.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents and husband, were brothers, Russell Steele and Albert Steele; sisters, Helen Gray, Retha Conklin, and Shirley Myers; grandson, Bradley Coen; and special friend, Mel Shoupe.
Surviving are her children, Deborah (Ken) Beck of Ellington, Mo., and William J (Sharon) Coen of Wilmington, N.C.; one sister, Norma Ruschell of Fort Drum, Fla.; one brother, Orval Steele of Washington; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
No services are planned at this time. Dora was cremated at her request. In the spring when it is warm, she will be buried at Forest Lawn Gardens in McMurray beside her husband and parents. A graveside service will be held at that time.