The Darien Times

Obituary: Marnie Carter Coates, 61, Darien High Class of ’68, artist, advertiser

Written by The Darien Times
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 08:16 AM

Marnie Coates of Harding Township, N.J., and Hampton Bays, N.Y., a Darien High School graduate and artist, died on early Christmas morning after a relatively pain-free five month battle with a brain tumor. Mrs. Coates, 61, was the wife of Paul D. Coates.

Born Marnie Ann Carter in Detroit, Mich., on May 16, 1950, she lived her early years in Short Hills, N.J., (1952-60) before moving to Darien. She graduated there from DHS 1968, Bradford JC in Massachusettes, in 1970 and received a bachelor of fine arts in 1972 from Denison University in Ohio. It was there and her term at University of California, Berkeley, that Mrs. Coates was welcomed as an honorary member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

"She had talent as an artist, model, dancer, choreographer, and actress, but charmed us with her laughter, grace, and perceptiveness," her family said.

Mrs. Coates was someone who embraced the seasons with all her heart, her family said. She always had fond memories of the family visits every summer in Michigan and her time at Camp Ak-O-Mak on Ahmic Lake, Ontario. As a young adult, she enjoyed her summers from 1969-74 on Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where she established the Pennywhistle Play School.

In 1972, Mrs. Coates moved to Boston where she taught photography at Pingree School and was the first female portrait photographer at Bacharach Studios. It was there she first started to make her mark in the advertising business. In 1979, she moved to New York City, where she was a fast rising account executive at N.W. Ayer ABH International, her family said.

Paul and Marnie were married in 1982 in Morristown, N.J. There, Mrs. Coates's energy, artistic eye, and meticulous attention to detail were drawn to landscaping, doll house miniatures, and photography of family life — including historic family photos. She is a direct descendant of some historically important figures such as Daniel Boone, John and Pricilla Alden and Peregrine White. Marnie has a great-grandfather, grandfather, and dad who were officers in the Civil War (Union Army), the World War I and World War II respectively.

Mrs. Coates's artistic talent shined brightest during the Christmas season. Her entire house would become a refined showcase of beautiful decorations and lovingly wrapped presents, her family said. Friends still talk about the couple's lavish Christmas party of 2008.

Mrs. Coates was an outstanding tennis and platform tennis player and served on the board of the Morristown Field Club, where she was a member until her death. She was a highly valued member of the Junior League of Morristown and a fast emerging bridge shark. By the steady stream of well wishers during her illness, there is no question she was a much loved member of her community, her family said.

Besides her husband of 29 years, Mrs. Coates is survived by her son, David W. Coates; her mother, Ann Carter of Darien; and her brother, John B. Carter of Toronto, Ontario.

Memorial contributions may be made to Daytop Mendham Residential Center, 80 West Main Street, Mendham, NJ, 07945 (973-543-5656).

< Prev		Next >