Cora Nell (Thomas) Coughanour (“Coe’), age 90, of Manassas, Virginia passed away Friday, October 18, 2019. She was born Dec. 21, 1928, in Lemont Furnace, PA, daughter of the late Lewis O. Thomas and Bess Handlin Thomas. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, William Harvey Thomas, Robert Allison Thomas and Arthur Phillip Thomas and sisters Josephine Thomas Hopwood and Mary Lou Thomas Craig.
Cora Nell was a former member of the Christian Church of Connellsville where she and her late husband, George S. “Cuddy” Coughanour, of Hopwood, PA were married Feb. 19, 1950.
She was an active Sunday School participant and choir member at the church where her sister, Josephine Thomas Hopwood, was also organist. Her father, Lewis O. Thomas was an Elder in the church for many years.
A 1946 graduate of North Union High School, she worked as a chairside dental assistant in Uniontown, PA and also in the Washington, D. C. metro area where she and Cuddy relocated after they were married following his service to the U.S. Army.
Born into a musical family where nearly all of her siblings were proficient musicians, she, herself, was endowed with a beautiful mezzo-soprano voice. Coe and her daughter, Laura, were fans and supporters of the Washington National Opera and attended several performances together including their favorite opera, Giuseppe Verdi’s, La Traviata.
She was also an outstanding athlete who excelled at virtually any sport that held her interest, especially golf. She won many local, state, and regional championships between the years of 1976 and 1993.
From her early 50s into her late 70s, she was a “power-walker” before such a term was popularized and worked hard to keep herself in excellent physical condition throughout most of her life. She was also a devout animal lover who assisted her daughter with the care of rescued/feral cats and rescued/retired thoroughbred horses. She dearly loved her four rescue “grand-cats” Tink, Pete, Sebastian and her beloved, Smeagol, who remained at her side until the very end of her life.
Musical talent and athletic gifts aside, she was, above all, blessed with a servant’s heart. She loved the Lord and would do her best to help anyone in need whenever she was able while always assuring them that the help came not from her but from her savior, Jesus Christ, in whose arms she rests today.
She was a wonderful mother and endless inspiration to her only child, Laura, who adored her. For 58 years, they enjoyed a long, immeasurably close and loving relationship. Coe was a light and a blessing to anyone who had the opportunity to know her.
She had a wonderful sense of humor, a quick wit and an unquenchable love of life that carried her into her 90th year despite battling multiple terminal illnesses including congestive heart failure and Myelofibrosis
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Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Laura Ann Coughanour of Manassas, VA, Cousin, Patricia Thomas Craig & family of Lemont Furnace, PA, Cousin, Harriet Townsend Gillock & family of North Royalton, OH and many loving family members and friends too numerous to mention. We are so grateful to all of you for your love and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in her memory to one of the following organizations: Christians United for Israel at CUFI, PO Box 1307 San Antonio, TX 78295, online to www.billygraham.org or to Alley Cat Allies at www.alleycat.org
Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, 80 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA where the family will receive friends on Monday, October 28th from 3 until 6 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 10 until 11 a.m. in the Christian Church followed by a service celebrating Coe’s life with Rev. Chris Stillwell officiating.
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Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at adferguson.com and on the funeral home Facebook page.