MARYLEE COATES BATTERTON ~ Class of 1959
April 30, 1941 - October 9, 2008, 2008

~



MaryLee Coates Batterton, 67, passed away Thursday, October 9, peacefully, with her 5 children and their spouses by her side in Albuquerque, NM, after a short, but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her loving husband of 26 years, Robert Batterton.

MaryLee was born on April 30th, 1941 in Benson, MN to Frank and Florence Coates. She moved to Richland with her family from Vanport, OR in 1948 after the Columbia River Vanport Flood. She would later graduate from Columbia High School as a proud Bomber in 1959. MaryLee moved to Benton City, WA in 1972, where she resided for the past 36 years.

She was "mom" to many. Mom loved to read, work crossword puzzles, collect antiques, fish, garden, and spend time in her yard with Robert and her dogs Pita and Lacey, constantly welcoming her family and extended 'family' in for games, advice, or just a good time. "I don't invite everyone to my home, but when I invite you, it's your home."

She loved to travel with her sister, visiting family, special friends, or just escaping the winter cold.

Along with Robert, MaryLee is survived by her 5 children, Tery (Kelly) Henry, Michael (Shaunie) Briggs, Wade (Edward McMahon) Briggs, David (Barbara) Briggs, and Michelle (Russell) Conklin. Stepchildren Kris Flerchinger, Tina (Shane) Miller, April McGreevy, and Heather (Bill) Fisk. Grandchildren Matthew, Melissa, Brianne, Derik, Lonnie, Kenny, Timothy, Kyle, Josh, Kodi, Levi, Stevi, C. J., Tyler, Miranda, Russell, and Colton. She also had 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and close friends that she considered family.

She is also survived by 2 sisters, Ann Marie 'Sis' Crow (Not a Bomber) of Colorado and Beverly Coates Karns ('52) of Richland and 2 brothers, Richard Coates ('52) of Valley, WA and James Coates ('65) of Prosser, WA.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers John, Franklin (Not A Bomber), and William (Bill) Coates ('63).

There will be a memorial service for MaryLee at Einan's Funeral Home in Richland, WA on Sunday, October 19th at 10am, and a reception at noon at Terra Blanca Winery in Benton City.

"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you. If you must remember me with tears and sadness, don't remember me at all."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to pancan.org (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).

Guest Book