Joseph Michael "Mike" Coman

, of Pasadena, TX, died peacefully of natural causes on September 15, 2017 at Brookdale Oak Hollow, a memory care facility, in Bedford, TX.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years Virginia "Ginny" Claire Benson Coman in 2010; his father John B. Coman when Mike was an infant, and mother Nettie Sanderson Coman; and twin infant sons Michael Joseph and Patrick James.

Surviving are Mike and Ginny's eight remaining children, their families, and 20 grandchildren: son Joseph Michael II of South Bend, IN and his children Grace, Joe, Rose, Maggie, Sean Paul, Eowyn, Flannery Joyce, and Leo; son Kevin Patrick and Rebecca of Arlington, TX and their son James; daughter Colleen Claire Durham and Tom of Del Rio, TX and their children Regan, Ethan, and Laura; daughter Kerry Ann and Paige of Jacksonville, TX and their daughter Tate; daughter Mary Elizabeth Wood and Mike of Seabrook, TX and their children Claire and Aidan; son Timothy Sean and Christy of Dallas, TX and their sons Sean and Quinn; son Stephen Edward and Mary of Saginaw, TX and their children Kate, Patrick, and Caroline; and, son Paul Daniel of Houston, TX.

Mike was born May 3, 1932 in Tulsa, OK. An only child, he was raised and cared for by his mother and maternal grandmother. Mike grew up in Tulsa and met his future wife, Ginny, at Marquette High School. They married September 3, 1955. Mike attended The University of Oklahoma, where he majored in Chemical Engineering, and graduated in May of 1956. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1956 at Quantico, VA. From Quantico, they journeyed to Twentynine Palms, CA, and upon completion of his active duty assignment with the Marines, Houston, TX. In Houston, Mike began his chemical engineering career with Shell Oil. As the family began to grow and expand in the early 1960s, Mike and Ginny moved to Pasadena, TX where they would reside for 50 years together, raising their children. They were faithful members of St. Pius V Catholic Church in Pasadena. Mike graduated from the University of Houston College of Law in 1964. He eventually gave up his career at Shell Oil to practice law in Pasadena and Houston for 40 years. He practiced civil, criminal, property/real estate law and later served as assistant city attorney in Pasadena for 15 years. He remained in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for 25 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 2014, Mike celebrated 50 years perfect attendance in the Pasadena Noon Optimist Club, a club in which he served in every capacity possible and necessary. The Optimist motto, "Friend of Youth" appealed to the man raised by a working single mother during the Depression and the war years.

Mike's greatest joy was his marriage and family. He somehow managed to balance careers, hobbies, and family responsibilities with ease. His greatest joy was his wife, Ginny. His second greatest joy was his home, listening to a noisy house full of his children. He enjoyed getting that afternoon phone call from Ginny telling him where he had to go to pick up one, two or three of their children from sports practice, scouts, babysitting or bringing them home from another event.

Although it is always difficult to lose a loved one, due to his particular situation, the family is relieved that he has passed to a better place and has rejoined his wife Ginny.

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 2, at Rosewood Funeral Home, 3939 Pasadena Blvd., from 6 pm - 8 pm, with a Rosary at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3 pm, November 3, at St. Pius V Catholic Church, 824 S. Main, in Pasadena. Mike's friends are invited to share stories and reminisce with the family at 5:00 pm on November 3, at Las Brisas Mexican Grill, 501 N. Wesley Dr, League City, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike's memory may be made to Pasadena Noon Optimist Club Oratorical Scholarship Fund, c/o Pam Tevis, 1515 Cherrybrook, Pasadena, TX 77502