Carol Peterson

     Carol Ann Peterson, daughter of James Archie Coates and Anna Lee (Brinkley) Coates, was born April 4, 1944, in Springfield, Missouri, and departed this life February 10, 2024, at Aurora Nursing Center in Aurora, Missouri, at the age of 79 years, 10 months, and 6 days.

     Carol was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bill, and brother, Max Lynn Coates .

     Carol is survived by two sons, Samuel Smith and wife, Angie, of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Matthew Smith of Springfield, Missouri; daughter, Brenda Greer and husband, Clarence, of Mesquite, Texas; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Ryan Coates of Kansas City, Kansas.

    Carol was born in Springfield and raised in Lebanon where she graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1962. She received her Bachelors’ degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1989, and Masters’ degree in Education from Walden University.  She had taught at Laquey Public Schools, Gainesville Public Schools, and finished her teaching career at Waynesville Public Schools retiring in 2011.

   In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, fishing, archeology, traveling, and genealogy.

   Bill and Carol were united in marriage in September 15, 1979.

   Bill and Carol had a love for cats and enjoyed sharing their garden produce with others.  They will be deeply missed, but we have many good memories of times spent together.