Caroline Coe , 77

Caroline Elizabeth Coe, 77, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2004 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. at Whitney Baptist Church. A viewing will be Monday, Aug. 16, from 4-7 p.m. at Summers Funeral Home, Boise Chapel.

Caroline was born Nov. 22, 1926 in Hackensack, N.J., to William R. and Emma Ruth Laird.

While employed as a missionary nurse in France, she met Charles Coe, who was in the U.S. Air Force. They married in 1953 in Hackensack, and had five children, settling in Mountain Home in 1972.

"She loved the Lord and held a special place in her heart for His creatures," her family said.

Following Charles's retirement in 1977, the family moved to a small farm outside of Mountain Home, where they raised a variety of animals, which Caroline continued with after Charles's death in 1991.

Caroline was a member of Whitney Baptist Church for over 20 years, and enjoyed singing in the choir. She loved teaching children. Over the years, she taught Sunday school, Good News Club, Bible School, and AWANA, as well as being a foster parent for four children.

She enjoyed playing the piano and organ. She taught her grandchildren crafts, such as knitting, crochet, and plastic canvas. She enjoyed being with her family.

Caroline is survived by: her children and their spouses, Christine and David Gunther of Whittier, Calif., Curtis Coe of Boise, Connie and Rex Kiesser of Mountain Home, Cheryl and Jim Gottsch of Mountain Home, and Cliff and Laura Coe of Boise; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jean Morse and Myra Laird, and one brother William Laird.

Her parents, William and Emma Ruth Lair; her husband, Charles Coe, and a grandson preceded her in death.