Lisa Wilcox Coonan
Lisa Wilcox Coonan, age 60 of Tallahassee, FL, formerly of Sullivan, MO, passed away Saturday, July 14, 2018.
Lisa was born in 1958 to George and Betty Wilcox, the third of four children. She attended St. Anthony Catholic Grade School and was raised lovingly and thoughtfully in her faith. She chose St. Francis Borgia Catholic High School in Washington, MO to continue her religious schooling and education. She was an active participant in school musicals, playing a major role in “Oliver” her senior year. She also used her singing talent to become Missouri’s Junior Miss that same year, along with the award of Miss Congeniality.
In 1976, Lisa attended East Central Junior College in Union, MO and finished her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Special Education at what is now Truman University. She continued her studies and obtained a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education at South Illinois University Carbondale. She then shared her love of learning with students in Indiana, Texas and Florida. Her teaching career of 33 years allowed her to enjoy students of all types and ages, but her passion was Early Childhood. She loved her students and was a devoted animal lover. She shared her sixty year life with three dogs, Molly, Darcy and Topaz. These were her children. She will be sadly missed by her students, their parents and fellow staff members for her creativity, dedication and support of the Relay for Life Program against cancer.
Lisa continued to participate in her church services with her unmistakable soprano voice by soloing, cantoring, and preforming duets with her fellow choir members. She celebrated weddings, funerals, and Sunday liturgies. Lisa used singing and music with her students, reaching her special needs students and also to encourage the typical students. Her loving, easy going, generous manner will be missed, although she could be persuasive and assertive at times
She is survived by her mother, Doris Betty (Stevens) Wilcox of Sullivan, MO; three siblings, Glenn Wilcox of St. James, MO, Valerie Aufderheide of St. Peters, MO and Brian Wilcox and wife Marlys of Sullivan, MO; nieces and nephews, Morgan Keence and husband Anthony of O’Fallon, MO, Heidi Wilcox, Clark Wilcox and significant other Nicole, Lydia Stack and husband Jonathan and Madeline Wilcox all of Sullivan, MO; great-niece and nephew, Everlee Keence and Sean Stack, other relatives and many friends.
Lisa was preceded in death by her beloved father, George Wilcox.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 4, 2018 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Sullivan with Father Paul Telken officiating. Burial to follow in St. Anthony Cemetery.
All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan and Bourbon, MO.